FOUR new Rural Clinical School students were introduced to the community last Thursday night at 104 Wellington Street.
The students will spend a year in and around Northam while continuing their studies.
The Rural Clinical School, established with federal government funding in 2002 within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences at the University of Western Australia, is designed to attract more doctors to rural practice.
The content and learning outcomes of the program are identical to those of the UWA Medical School in Perth and students are taught and assessed to the same standards.
Rural Clinical School medical co-ordinator Marie Fox said the previous four students, Georgia Walker, Kate Tunstill, Brent Evans and Jonathon Stewart, all passed with flying colours.
"We were pleased with how they went - we also learned a lot," Dr Fox said.
"As a result the program this year will more or less be the same; however it will be more structured."
The four new students are April Stock, Rachel Hunter, Clare Gilbride and Zeb Melvin.
Ms Stock and Mr Melvin are both from the University of WA, while the other two hail from Notre Dame University.
All will be living in Northam, participating in sports and gaining an understanding of the local health network.
Their first official day was February 2 with the students visiting the hospital and local GPs.
During their studies they will be spending considerable time at the new Wheatbelt Health Centre, as well as with Aboriginal health, St John Ambulance, the Toodyay Wheatbelt General Practice and emergency wards.
Apart from Dr Fox other medical co-ordinators employed by UWA in the Rural Clinical School include Duncan Steed, Vish Ramaraju and Tony Mylius.
Richard and Stephanie Spencer will also be among those assisting the medical students during their stay in Northam.
The group of new students said they were all looking forward to getting to know the community.