Discovery Healthcare Camp, 2025

26 high school students were congratulated by Minister Lisa Thompson at fun summer camp graduating ceremony

From July 7-11, 2025, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health, in partnership with Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Huron Health System, hosted the Discovery Healthcare Camp at Camp Klahanie, just south of Goderich. The camp gave 26 high school students an immersive, hands-on experience in the world of rural healthcare. Designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of rural healthcare providers, the camp offered students exposure to a wide range of healthcare careers, practical skills training, research opportunities, and personal mentorship from real professionals in the field. 

The week began with a warm welcome from Jamie Heffer, Warden of Huron County, Trevor Bazinet, Mayor of Goderich, and Steve Travale, representative of Ben Lobb MP. Their speeches provided insight on the importance for students to be engaged in healthcare and offered their full support of the program and its mission to build Huron County’s healthcare force by supporting local youth.  

Tovan Lew & Allegra Ferrara, medical students and camp leaders, at the Discovery Healthcare Camp

Allegra Ferrara, incoming third-year medical student, was the Camp Captain. Allegra has spent many previous summers as a camp counsellor, and made the camp engaging for the campers. The students spent the week doing icebreakers, volleyball, and badminton as youth from all different communities connected over their passion for healthcare. Jade Gilchrist and Tovan Lew, both entering their second year of medical school, were the other camp leaders. The medical students did an amazing job, providing a fun and informative camp for the students. 

Learning Healthcare Skills

During the week, students performed many skills. They learned how to suture with Dr. Tiffaney Kittmer (Rural Surgeon), how to cast with Dr. Ken Milne (Emergency Physician), how to take blood sugar with Tanya Thomspon (Registered Nurse and Diabetes Educator) and gave an injection to a lemon. Western Medical School also provided simulation equipment for the students to practice care similar to a healthcare professional. They learned how to draw blood, listened to breath sounds, and delivered a baby.

The camp welcomed speakers like paramedics from EMS, Mike Beazely (Pharmacist and Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo's School of Pharmacy), Brent Meyers (Social Worker), Dr. Alex Peel (Geriatrician), and Dr. Shannon Natuik (Family Physician). All the providers are local community members who spoke on how much they love working in our community. They spoke about their journey to get to where they are and what their job looks like today. They offered mentorship and guidance to students who may be overwhelmed or lost in the vast world of healthcare.  

Rural Health Research and One Health

A team of high school students present their research on the importance of incorporating "One Health" into high school classrooms.

Throughout the week, there was a general theme of “One Health,” the idea that animal, plant, and human health are all related and all need to be considered in health research. The campers spent time working on a research poster on a topic related to "One Health" that they then presented at the end of the week. The campers learned skills such as finding reliable sources, comparing scientific data, and thinking critically to further research on the topic. They exercised creativity in the project and finished the week with an impressive project. The students also learned a lot about how to approach research in a way that included rural communities and the unique challenges we face. 

On Friday, the day began with a yoga/meditation session with Margery Holmes. Mental well-being is an important part of the care process, and teaching high school students ways to stay mentally healthy even during stressful times is a skill they can use for the rest of their lives. After yoga, the students presented their poster presentations and got ready for their graduation. The Goderich Lions Club provided a BBQ for parents, grandparents, and partners of the program. After speeches from Gateway CERH Chair of the Board, Dan Stringer, MPP, Lisa Thompson, Mayor Trevor Bazinet, and Former Warden, Glen McNeil, each student walked across the stage and received a certificate of completion.  

As Gateway CERH looks ahead, the Discovery Healthcare Camp is becoming a cornerstone of our youth programming. Rural students often face unique barriers to entering healthcare fields. This camp breaks those barriers down by offering hands-on experience, meaningful connections, and a clear pathway forward. 

Students at the Discovery Healthcare Camp, while competing in a healthcare spelling bee

The camp will run again next summer, reaching more students and continuing to break down the barriers that may prevent them from reaching their goals. Thank you to those who directly supported the camp, and thank you to the parents and campers who were engaged and excited the whole week. You are planting the seeds of long-term sustainable change in our healthcare system. 

Thank you to funders, Rotary, AMGH, Brussels Lions Club, the Victoria Foundation, Holly Smith and Charles Oliver, the Goderich Lions Club, and the Town of Goderich.

About Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health  

Founded in 2008 in the community of Seaforth, ON, Gateway CERH is a not-for-profit rural health research organization run by a community-based volunteer board of directors. Gateway CERH's main mission is to better the health and quality of life of rural residents through research, education and communication. Learn more on the Gateway CERH website at: https://www.gatewayruralhealth.ca/ and follow on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube