The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is set become the first stand-alone medical university in Canada.
The provincial government has passed legislation confirming the change.
School Dean, President and CEO Dr. Sarita Verma calls it a historic occasion for the medical school and all of Northern Ontario, stating it represents an incredible transformation.
Dr. Verma says, “We will build upon the strength of our flagship campuses in Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with an expanded medical school, new residency programs, innovated health professions education, and population-based research within a pan-northern regional model. NOSM University will have an immense impact on the health and wealth of Northern Ontarians.”
She says the focus will remain on moving forward with addressing the urgent physician workforce crisis in northern Ontario as well as health education and research reform.
Dr. Verma says they will begin broad consultations about the next steps over the summer months. Once legislation is proclaimed in force, NOSM University will form a new Board of Governors and new Senate.
The school will continue to receive 90% of its operating funds directly from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Colleges and Universities and will still handle the administration of its own staff and faculty, curriculum, labs, and equipment, and provide support and graduate its own learners. It will continue to provide its own finance, IT, research, and libraries.
Since opening its doors in 2005, the medical school has graduated 714 MDs, 48 self-identify as Indigenous, 151 self-identify as Francophone with an additional 66 MDs set to graduate this spring. In addition, 579 residents have completed NOSM programs, more than half stayed in Northern Ontario.
However, Lakehead University President Moira McPherson says the school, as well as many community partners, has grave concern this decision was made without consulting them, staff, health care providers, Indigenous communities and regional business leaders.
In a news release, she adds community partners with LU have tried to increase awareness of how this will impact program accreditation, costs to taxpayers and students, as well as research and community partnerships.
They’ve also put forward solutions to maintain access to high-quality education and research in Northern Ontario through Lakehead’s partnership with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
With files from Mike Ebbeling
