May 5, 2003 For Immediate Release

May 5, 2003 For Immediate Release

Ten communities from around northern BC have been elected to the first Board of Directors for the Northern Medical Programs Trust, a unique partnership between northern communities and UNBC to increase opportunities for northerners to access medical education.

The development of the Northern Medical Program is seen as a critical development by many northern communities, who recognize that the recruitment of medical professionals is critical to community sustainability and economic development. To date, 19 communities have pledged to raise money to support future students in the program, with the pledge amount for each community based on their population.

The first Board of the Northern Medical Programs Trust (NMPT) is comprised of some of the communities that have formally pledged to participate. The Board will begin to establish the criteria for allocating funds to students and share strategies. The founding members are listed below:

Terrace
Tumbler Ridge
Hudson's Hope
Quesnel
Prince George
Fort St James
Dawson Creek
Burns Lake
Valemount
Hazelton
Three UNBC representatives

The goal of the NMPT is to ensure that northerners are not financially disadvantaged from pursuing medical education - especially if they are interested in practicing in rural communities. The goal is to establish an endowment of at least $6 million. Tumbler Ridge has been the only community so far to realize its community pledge, contributing $65,000 to the NMPT late last year.