Discovery Week 2026 Introduces Medical Students to Rural Medicine at Hanover & District Hospital
May 25, 2026
First-year medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University will begin their learning and training with Hanover & District Hospital as part of the 28th annual Discovery Week.
For two weeks, May 25 to June 4, Schulich Medicine physicians-in-training will be welcomed as temporary members of the Hanover community. During their immersive, one-week placement at Hanover & District Hospital, the medical students will familiarize themselves with teamwork and collaboration in the local health-care setting and will have exciting opportunities to discover all the community has to offer.
Discovery Week is a long-standing program that gives all first-year medical students the opportunity to experience what life and health care look like in regional and rural communities across Southwestern Ontario.
“Discovery Week offers a unique opportunity for medical students to experience the rewards and realities of rural medicine firsthand. By immersing themselves in our hospital and community, students can begin to picture a future where they not only practise medicine here but also build meaningful connections with patients and colleagues. HDH is proud to play a role in inspiring the next generation of physicians to consider a career in rural health care,” said Dana Howes, President & CEO of Hanover and District Hospital.
During Discovery Week 2026, 190 Schulich Medicine students will be placed in more than 30 participating communities, from Windsor to Owen Sound.
“Our community partners play a vital role in our students’ medical education by providing exceptional, first-hand, in-patient care experiences in rural and regional settings,” said Dr. Victor Ng, assistant dean, Distributed Education, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
“We are incredibly grateful for this long-standing partnership which prepares and inspires a cohort of physicians to practise in small and mid-sized communities across the province. Through this collaboration, Schulich medical students will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for rural-regional medicine and health-care providers. Many also return to practise in the communities they trained in."
To learn more about Schulich Medicine’s Discovery Week program or arrange an interview with Dr. Ng, please contact media@uwo.ca.