Megan Acres - Rural Healthcare: The Next Generation
Investing in the Next Generation of Rural Healthcare
Over the past year, Community Foundation Grey Bruce Executive Director Stuart Reid has had the privilege of mentoring University of Western Ontario master's candidate Megan Acres as she completed her capstone project, Rural Healthcare: The Next Generation.
A lifelong resident of Meaford and graduate of Georgian Bay Community School, Megan has brought both academic expertise and personal insight to a research project focused on an important local challenge: how to encourage more Grey-Bruce students to pursue careers in healthcare. Using an equity lens, Megan's research examines the barriers and protective factors that influence whether students from Grey-Bruce pursue post-secondary education in healthcare fields. Her findings highlight several key factors that shape student decisions, including hands-on learning opportunities, financial considerations, transportation challenges, self-selection, and access to professional networks and mentorship (see graphic below).
The research reveals that practical healthcare experiences can significantly increase students' interest in healthcare careers, while financial concerns remain a major barrier for many young people considering post-secondary education. Transportation challenges, often amplified in rural communities, can also limit access to educational and experiential learning opportunities. In addition, students may underestimate their own abilities or lack exposure to healthcare professionals who can serve as mentors and role models.
At the same time, Megan's work highlights the strengths of rural communities. Grey-Bruce youth report a strong sense of belonging and community connection, providing a foundation upon which future healthcare recruitment and education initiatives can build. The project's findings are already being used to assess current opportunities and inform future initiatives across Grey-Bruce aimed at strengthening the local healthcare workforce pipeline. By better understanding the experiences of local students, community partners can develop programs and supports that help more young people see a future for themselves in healthcare.
Megan is especially passionate about this work because she is pursuing that path herself. This fall, she will begin medical school at Queen's University, taking the next step toward a career in healthcare while continuing to advocate for opportunities for rural students.
Community Foundation Grey Bruce congratulates Megan on her accomplishments and thanks her for contributing valuable research that will help shape the future of healthcare in our region.
Good luck, Megan!
Share Your Experience
As part of her ongoing research, Megan has created a survey to gather the experiences and perspectives of Grey-Bruce students interested in healthcare education and careers. If you are a high school student in Grey-Bruce, please take a few minutes to share your experiences. Community members can also support the project by sharing the survey with students who may be interested in participating. Together, we can help build the next generation of rural healthcare professionals right here in Grey-Bruce.
