Estevan's physicians will soon be showing aspiring doctors how the practice of medicine works.

"The College of Medicine of the University of Saskatchewan had approached St. Joseph's Hospital, and we've been in discussions with them for the past year or so, with the view to this becoming a learning site for their third year medical students," explained hospital Executive Director Greg Hoffart.

The program will be called 'Longitudinal Clinical Clerkship'. Instead of the typical training that a student at that stage would get in a larger center, this would see the training happen in a smaller community.

"Estevan will be the pilot site for that, so we'll be receiving two medical students, third years, in the summer. On August 1st they'll start, and they'll be with us for the year receiving their third year of medical training from our team of physicians here in Estevan."

The project director will be Dr. Edward Tsoi, who's spent many years practicing in the Energy City. He and Dr. Edward Krickan will serve as the preceptors for the pair of doctors-to-be.

"It will be a group effort of the entire medical staff to see that these students get their training," Hoffart said.

It was also speculated that such an initiative could potentially result in a spotlight on the southeast for fresh doctors looking for a place to settle down and establish a practice.

"It's encouraging for us. We're very appreciative that the College has looked to us as a site capable of doing this. We're appreciative of the physicians who will take it upon themselves to provide the experience and mentorship for these students. We're grateful for the opportunity to host these students."

"In other communities and other areas of the country, it's proven to be successful in terms of a potential place for these students to return to, to start their practice once their through medical school. So in a number of ways, it's something that's a really exciting, new initiative here in Estevan," the Director concluded.