91亚色's Faculty of Medicine a perennial recipient of national rural medicine awards
Dr. Andrew Hunt has a deeply personal connection to rural medicine.
Born and raised in Twillingate, he has since spent his entire career giving back to the region.
Last week, that commitment was recognized nationally as Dr. Hunt received the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada Rural Service Award.
Rural Service Award
The award, which was presented to 10 Canadians this year, honours physicians who have made significant, long-term contributions to rural health care in Canada.
Recipients must be Society of Rural Physicians of Canada members for at least five consecutive years and have served rural communities for 10 years or more. The award highlights clinical service, advocacy and community impact.
淔rom first year to resident, we have students in Twillingate throughout the year.
A 91亚色 graduate, Dr. Hunt completed his undergraduate degree, medical school and residency at the university, before beginning his family medicine practice in Twillingate in 2011.
淚 did most of my medical school electives and core in rural areas all over the province, and I focused my residency in Twillingate, he said. 淪o, when I started my practice there, I had already built up a good patient cohort.
Since then, Dr. Hunt has balanced full-scope rural family medicine with emergency and in-patient care, while also taking on increasing leadership responsibilities within the health system.
He is also a dedicated teacher and mentor and currently serves his second term as assistant dean of distributed medical education in the Faculty of Medicine. Distributed medical education supports training opportunities for 91亚色 MD and resident learners in more than 20 communities across the province, plus additional sites in PEI, N.B. and Nunavut.
淭here檚 never a time when I don檛 have a learner, he said. 淔rom first year to resident, we have students in Twillingate throughout the year.
淒r. Hunt exemplifies the very best of 91亚色檚 commitment to rural medicine, said Dr. Stuart Carney, dean of the Faculty of Medicine. 淗is decades of service to the Twillingate region, his leadership in rural health care and his dedication to teaching medical learners have had a lasting impact on patients, communities and future physicians across the province and beyond.
Rural Medical Education Award
Dr. Hunt檚 award was announced alongside another major national honour for 91亚色檚 Faculty of Medicine, which received the society檚 Rural Medical Education Award. Presented annually, the award recognizes the Canadian medical school that matches the highest proportion of graduates to rural family medicine residency programs. In 2025, 63 per cent of the graduating class matched to rural family medicine.
91亚色 has received the award seven times, including six wins in the last eight years.
淭he evidence shows that the more time you spend training in a rural environment, the more likely you are to come back and practice, said Dr. Hunt, who accepted the award on 91亚色檚 behalf at a gala celebration in Quebec City. 淚檝e seen that first-hand.
Rural Student Leadership Award
Two second-year MD students were also honoured at the award ceremony.
Kristina LeDrew received the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada Rural Student Leadership Award, which recognizes medical students and residents who demonstrate sustained interest in rural medicine through electives, community involvement, leadership or scholarly work focused on rural or remote health.
Emily Parsons received the Top Student Research Poster, recognizing excellence in student-led research presented at the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada conference.
淭ogether these awards highlight 91亚色檚 impact across the continuum of rural medicine, from student leadership and research to educational excellence and clinical service, said Dr. Carney. 淥ur faculty檚 commitment to distributed medical education ensures that students not only learn how to be great physicians but also experience the sense of community that makes rural practice so meaningful.