U of L welcomes first full-time cohort of 20 medical students in Lethbridge
The Southern Alberta Medical Program marks a milestone as students complete their entire three-year training in Lethbridge for the first time, rather than in Calgary.
Why it matters
The program aims to address physician shortages in rural Alberta by training doctors directly in the communities they may eventually serve.
The University of Lethbridge and local leaders held a formal ceremony Monday to welcome the first full-time cohort of Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) students, even though the group began classes back on July 6. The ceremony included representatives from the university, the University of Calgary, local and Indigenous leaders, and the provincial government.
Twenty medical students are enrolled in the three-year program, with graduation set for spring 2029. This marks the first time in SAMP's history that students are completing their entire medical curriculum in Lethbridge rather than in Calgary.
Primary & Preventative Health Services Minister Justin Wright said the program is a key step toward training 100 additional physicians intended to serve rural Alberta. He noted that students who train in rural settings are statistically more likely to remain and practice there, often putting down roots and starting families in those communities.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.