Medical students were invited to apply to participate in the rural stream. 12 medical students were selected from those who applied. These 12 students will meet weekly over the academic year and study together in an integrated cases tutorial group. Integrated cases tutorial groups have the aim of enabling students to think, feel and act like a doctor. The rural stream students will consider the tutorial topics through a rural lens. Students who applied to the rural stream are hoping to study in a supportive environment with like-minded individuals who are interested in rural people and their communities, and who want to learn more about the innovative, challenging and ultimately rewarding world of rural medicine. Auckland University has run a similar successful project for several years. 

The students have met for kai and the opportunity to whakawhanaungatanga with the support of sponsorship from Rural Postgraduate Programme – Continuing Medical Education whom they would like to thank.  Other such opportunities are planned for later in the year. The students are pictured with Senior Lecturer Linda Gulliver, Convenor of the Integrated Cases tutorials workstream. Linda has been pivotal in supporting the rural stream pilot, along with Tony Zaharic, Director Early Learning in Medicine.