Scholarship presented to rural medicine student

Posted September 20, 2012

Dr. Allan S. Garbutt, President, Section of Rural Medicine, presents the scholarship cheque to Stephen Annand from Okotoks.: photo credit Fred Katz The Alberta Medical Association's (AMA’s) Section of Rural Medicine presented the Tarrant Scholarship to two Alberta medical students.

The Tarrant scholarship is awarded to third-year medical students who have demonstrated an interest in, and dedication to, rural medical issues in their undergraduate work. This year one student from the University of Alberta (U of A) and one student from the University of Calgary (U of C) will receive the scholarship. The scholarship provides a full year’s tuition for the recipients.

The 2012 Tarrant Scholarship recipients are University of Alberta medical student Clark Svrcek from Hinton, Alberta, and University of Calgary medical student Stephen Annand from Okotoks, Alberta. 

Stephen Annand grew up in Okotoks, Alberta. With Calgary only a short commute away, Annand was exposed to both rural and urban environments.

Annand attended the University of Western Ontario, with the goal of achieving a double degree in engineering and business. After completing his first year of post-secondary studies, Annand decided to pursue medicine.

After working with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation in a program facilitation and development role, Annand achieved his Masters in Public Health at the University of Alberta. He pursued his practicum in Emergency Preparedness during the H1N1 outbreak. This gave Annand the opportunity to work with physicians directly involved in the frontline management of the outbreak.

Upon completing his Masters, Annand entered medical school. Initially, Annand found it difficult to focus on one particular specialization. Annand’s inspiration to pursue rural medicine comes from his involvement with the Rural Integrated Community Clerkship in the Crowsnest Pass.

“Again this year we have had many good candidates for the award,” said Dr. Allan S. Garbutt, President, AMA Section of Rural Medicine. “We are confident that this year’s winners will, like those ahead of them, strengthen the group of physicians serving rural Alberta.”

The scholarship is named in honor of the late Dr. Michael Tarrant, a Calgary family physician, who championed rural medical undergraduate education. It is one of Alberta’s largest unrestricted medical school undergraduate awards. Information about the scholarship is at www.albertadoctors.org.