After seven years of support for local medical students, the Dr. R. J. Watson Medical Student Bursary will benefit more students this year, than ever before. The RMH Foundation offers heartfelt congratulations to the eight medical students who are this year's recipients of the Dr. R. J. Watson Medical Student Bursary.

This bursary was named after Dr. Robert Watson, who practiced medicine at the hospital and in the community for over 40 years. Following Doc Watson's retirement, many donations were made to the Foundation in his honour. For that reason, it was decided that a bursary for medical students was an appropriate way to recognize his contribution to the community.  Each year these funds are provided to the Ross Memorial Hospital for the Dr. R. J. Watson Medical Student Bursary Committee to review applications and recommend recipients to the Board of Governors.

The Dr. R. J. Watson Medical Student Bursary is provided to students who originate from the City of Kawartha Lakes with the hope that they will choose to come back here to practice medicine and apply for active privileges at Ross Memorial Hospital. A $1000 academic year bursary is provided to each qualifying candidate. 

This year's recipients are: Amy Forbes, Stephen Gowing, Joanna Moore, Joel Runk, Allison Bingham, Caitlin Gallagher, Stephanie Vandenberg and Jesse Wheeler, all from the City of Kawartha Lakes. The Hospital maintains contact with recipients and when possible, provides them with clinical elective opportunities. 

"I'm very thankful to receive the Watson Bursary," said Joel Runk, who is studying medicine at the University of Western Ontario in London. "It's a good feeling to know that the community is interested in having me come back when I'm done my training. I've done a couple of electives at the Ross and they were both great experiences."

                                                         -30-