Growing roots in Windsor
Dr. Trish Valcke, MD’13, is among the many grads who chose to build a life in Windsor after completing the MD program there.
Now, she is a palliative care specialist at the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. She sees patients at the Erie Shores campus hospice residence in Leamington, and throughout Windsor and Essex County in their homes.
Valcke grew up in Mississauga, Ont., completed her undergrad at Western and joined the Windsor Campus medical program in its second year. She said the city quickly became her home, “and one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
“The medical school was a very small community, and it was so tight-knit, and I lucked out with incredible classmates, many who have become lifelong friends,” said Valcke, who completed her residency at McMaster University, and returned to Windsor, after marrying a Windsorite from the MD Class of 2015. “I didn’t realize at the time that it would be a such an important part of my experience. That’s really what stood out in Windsor.”
Valcke’s experience has now come full circle. She facilitates a number of courses for the MD program and is a program director for the family medicine postgraduate year 3 enhanced skills program in palliative care at the Windsor Campus.
As she sets up her family medicine practice in Windsor, Dr. Dema Kadri, MD’17, looks back on her experience at the Windsor Campus and isn’t surprised why physicians stay to practise in the community.
“There’s a charm to the city,” said the Windsor native, who completed her residency in family medicine after graduating. “When you’re born here, we always say you’ll find your way back to Windsor, no matter where you go. I’ve always wanted to study medicine, and luckily there was a campus in my hometown where I could train.”
“Windsor is a tight-knit community. Those patients were my ‘teachers’ when I was a medical student and they allowed me to learn and develop my skills. Now I get to use those skills they helped me develop to treat them,” she said.