Two skills events were held in late 2005 to introduce medical students to rural medicine and a rural community.

An RPAP Skills Weekend was held for first- and second-year UofA medical students on 26-27 November 2005 in Hinton.  Fifty students arrived Saturday morning at the Black Cat Guest Ranch.  Following lunch, the group headed to the Brule Community Hall where Dr. Mike Caffaro of the Hinton Medical staff did a presentation on rural medicine.  After the presentation, students worked through a variety of skills training stations including IV Starts, Casting and Suturing.  Students spent the evening splashing in the Hinton Pool before heading back to the Ranch.  On Sunday morning, they were treated to wagon rides before boarding the bus for their trip back to Edmonton.

An RPAP Skills Day was held on 17 December 2005 in High River for first- and second-year UofC medical students.  Debarking their bus at the High River Hospital, the students first heard a presentation on rural medicine from Dr. Ron Gorsche then toured the hospital before taking part in a variety of skills training stations on IV Starts, Casting, suturing and Airway Skills.  A late afternoon tour of the Cayley Hutterite Colony provided an interesting cultural perspective before the bus returned the students to Calgary.

Two additional skills days are currently being organized.  Through collaboration with Dr. Rob Halse of Ponoka, a UofA day is planned for 8 April, and Dr. Vince Elgersma is working with RPAP to plan a skills day in Brooks for UofC students on 27 May.