Medical students worry about public perception

Medicine students in Saskatoon hope the public won't judge them too harshly.

Three weeks ago, students in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan learned their school was being put back on probation.

It's the second time in 11 years that the college has been given probationary status.

The accreditation body found the college didn't give students enough supervision in clinical settings and a lag in research productivity.

It's news that has impact beyond the university years for many students.

"Their biggest fear is that they won't be able to have the trust of future patients," second-year medical student John Schultesaid. "Having a patient come up to me and say I don't want you to treat me because you come from the U of S."

The college recently announced it would be restructuring tofocus more onmedical research and more clinical teachers.

The College of Medicine also plans to have a series of town hall meetings so that studentsand the medical communitycan have their say in the way the school operates.

Kylie Riou sees this as an opportunity for many students like her.

"More than everstudents have a role in active change within the college and have a stronger voice in changes moving forward,"Riou said.