Focused on a Future in Rural Practice

When Montana Halliday was growing up in Grand Forks, B.C., she knew early on that she wanted to pursue a career in medicine.

“I was raised in a small town with my mom as the local family doctor,” says Montana. “I wanted to follow in her footsteps and contribute to my community in the same significant way.”

And her dream is now one giant step closer as she graduated this May from the Northern Medical Program as part of the Class of 2017.

During the past year, her fourth and final one in the program, Montana was able to learn more about northern family medicine in Vanderhoof and in Gitlaxt'aamiks in the Nass Valley, with support from the Northern Medical Programs Trust.

“My time in Vanderhoof was fantastic. The medical community is filled with talented physicians who are passionate about rural medicine. And their collegiality was inspiring. Almost every day of the week I was invited to someone’s home for dinner and families took turns taking care of each other’s kids. This highlighted what I love about rural communities: interdependence.”

Montana’s time in Gitlaxt'aamiks, and the surrounding region, also helped to further build her knowledge and interest in rural family practice.

“Every day was a new adventure. I loved the excitement of making do with the limited resources that we had to provide medical care, which required me to think outside the box.

“When I wasn’t working, my preceptor, a local doctor, would take me to various beautiful locations in the area. I really enjoyed seeing and being a part of the strong culture and community found in each of the small villages I visited.”

After she graduates, Montana will enter a two-year family medicine residency in Prince George.

“These experiences, made possible for me in part to the Trust, highlighted the benefits of practicing rural medicine,” notes Montana. “It reinforced my desire to pursue this direction for my career.”