Fort St. John Mayor Elected NMPT President

Northern communities are investing more than $176,000 this year to support the education of future doctors and Nurse Practitioners. The investment represents the amount available in 2013 from the Northern Medical Programs Trust (NMPT), a $7 million endowment established by communities, individuals, and corporations.

More than 80% of the funds are being allocated to students in medicine or the Nurse Practitioner program who pursue clinical experiences in northern/rural communities during their degree program. Funds this year will also support a pilot “weekend shadowing program” designed to expose first and second-year medical students to practice and lifestyle in various northern BC communities.

Since providing its first awards in 2006, the NMPT has supported 440 students and provided nearly $500,000 in financial support.

The Trust is governed by a Board made up of 30 northern BC local governments. The annual general meeting was held in conjunction with the North Central Local Government Association convention late last week in Quesnel. In addition to approving the disbursement for 2013-14, the Trust members elected Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman as NMPT president. She replaces Fraser Fort George Regional District Chair Art Kaehn, who had been NMPT President since 2009. Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen is the new NMPT Vice-President.

“The Trust is a unique example of how northern communities are working with the University to provide the local educational opportunities that will lead to more graduates staying here to live and work,” says Mayor Ackerman. "We feel that the more we can expose students to what it's like in the region, the more likely they'll be to practice here once they complete their degrees."

The NMPT is one of the most popular designations for UNBC donations. Last year, more than 225 donors supported the Trust.