Notice Board

Speaker: Dr. Rick Buck with Dr. Jonathan Cluett and Dr. Ashley Rommens

Talk Tittle: Growing our own: How SAMP can transform health care and research in southern Alberta

Date: September 24, 2026

7 p.m.  |  9 p.m.

Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Upper ballrooms

Check-in open at 6 p.m.

Light Refreshments and a cash bar will be availalbe

To pre-register oe more information : Public Professor Series | University of Lethbridge

Light appetizers and a cash bar will be available 

September - Dr. Rick Buck

Talk Title:

Growing our own: How SAMP can transform health care and research in southern Alberta

Bio:

Dr. Rick Buck is the inaugural Associate Dean of the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP). He is an associate professor in Family Medicine at the University of Calgary, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Alberta, an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge and an emergency physician at Chinook Regional Hospital.

Dr. Buck has been a leader in medical education for more than two decades, teaching and mentoring rural family medicine residents through academic sessions, simulation training, journal clubs and ER-based instruction. He developed the Rural Resident “Bootcamp Course” in 2013 — adapted from Queen’s University — and later transitioned it online during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also supervises resident research projects and instructs advanced clinical courses including ATLS, ACLS and PALS. His contributions have been recognized through multiple teaching awards from the University of Calgary. A longtime physician in southern Alberta, Dr. Buck maintains strong connections with rural and Indigenous communities and is committed to strengthening health care across the region. 

Talk description:

The Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) brings medical education closer to home for students in Lethbridge and communities across southern Alberta — an exciting milestone for our region and its future health-care needs.

Join Dr. Rick Buck as he hosts a conversation with Dr. Jonathan Cluett and Dr. Ashley Rommens to discuss what the Southern Alberta Medical Program — a partnership between the University of Lethbridge and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary — could mean for southern Alberta. Drawing on their experiences as practicing physicians and medical educators in the region, they’ll explore how training future physicians close to home can help strengthen local health care, support innovation in medical education and create new opportunities for collaboration across communities.   

The conversation will also consider how SAMP may help shape the future of health research and scholarship in southern Alberta while building a healthier future by preparing physicians who understand the unique needs, challenges and strengths of the region.

Dr. Jonathan Cluett
As a Pre-Clerkship Instructor, Dr. Jonathan (Jon) Cluett is committed to supporting the education and development of future physicians. Based in Lethbridge, he provides obstetrical and gynecological care to patients across southern Alberta. Dr. Cluett completed both his medical degree and residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Kingston, Ont., before beginning his career in Alberta as a locum physician. After relocating to Lethbridge, he established a full-time practice and now serves the community through comprehensive women's health care. Passionate about medical education, Dr. Cluett is excited to contribute to teaching and mentorship opportunities for learners in southern Alberta.

Dr. Ashley Rommens

As Director of Faculty Development and Experiences for SAMP, Dr. Ashley Rommens helps strengthen rural teaching and faculty engagement throughout southern Alberta. Based in Pincher Creek, Dr. Rommens provides comprehensive family medicine, including low-risk obstetrics, emergency and hospitalist care. She is a clinical lecturer in the Department of Family Medicine, where she supports rural teaching across the province. After completing her MD and Family Medicine residency in the Rural Alberta South program at the University of Calgary, she chose to establish her practice in southern Alberta and now teaches both undergraduate learners and residents in Pincher Creek.