Kirkland Lake

Spent my reading week in Kirkland lake with my roommates. One of them is from Kirkland lake so we stayed with his lovely family for the week. It was a wonderful relaxing week!!

This was the first time I've really been to Northern Ontario, and instead of the frozen misery a lot of Southern Ontarians would imagine (shameful but true..), I really enjoyed the small town and the winteriness (yup, made up that word. KL deserves a made-up adjective!). All you need is warm boots and mittens and a hat and it's really not so bad..

It was also a special experience for me because my grandmother and great uncle actually grew up in Kirkland lake.

Also of interest, I spoke to my roommates mother at length about the problems they have getting and keeping enough doctors there. She said one of the biggest problems if maternal and perinatal care...women "have to drive 45 minutes to have their babies" because they don't have the facilities or professionals for it there (obviously the doctors in the hospital are capable of delivering babies, they just don't have the specialized care that would be more ideal)

Her, and others, told me, in a very friendly and only a little forceful way, that I needed to return there to work after finishing med school.

It really impressed upon me the sense of responsibility and civic duty that accompanies being a doctor, and I know that I personally will probably have to make tough decisions about practicing where I would rather live, versus where we are most needed.