Toronto Metropolitan University’s school of medicine receives further support from Province of Ontario
President Lachemi spoke at a press conference on March 15 where the province of Ontario announced support for Toronto Metropolitan University’s school of medicine as well as an investment in enrolment.
The Province of Ontario has confirmed its support for Toronto Metropolitan University's proposed school of medicine. The university has worked for two years with the City of Brampton and the people of Peel Region on the plan.
“We're building the brand new Toronto Metropolitan University school of medicine that will open right here in Brampton. Our government is investing in training the doctors who will serve this community,” said Premier Doug Ford at a press conference held on Tuesday, March 15. “With this investment, we're supporting more students to take the path to becoming a doctor and creating the family doctors and specialists that will take care of us in the years to come.”
The province announced that it will invest in 80 medical school seats for undergraduate students and 95 postgraduate seats for Toronto Metropolitan University’s school of medicine.
“I have always said that Toronto Metropolitan University is well-placed to support this need and the announcement from Premier Ford confirms it. Our future students and graduates will contribute to creating a health-care system that is stronger, more resilient and more responsive to the diverse needs of Brampton, Peel Region and Ontario,” said President Mohamed Lachemi.
The pandemic has put a spotlight on the increased need for investment in the provincial health-care systems.
"As a growing city with pressing health-care needs, I'm proud of the fact that the first new medical school in Ontario in over 30 years is being built right here in Brampton," said Prabmeet Sarkaria, President of the Treasury Board and MPP for Brampton South. "After years of chronic staffing shortages, budget cuts, and neglect from previous governments, our community is finally getting our fair share. Brampton's new medical school will give the eager students of today the opportunity to become the skilled doctors serving our community tomorrow — improving access and quality of care for all Bramptonians."
At the announcement, President Lachemi spoke of the university’s commitment to create a school of medicine that will be innovative, that reflects the fast-growing region, that builds on a solid foundation of health-care expertise, and that will secure talent from diverse backgrounds while focusing on culturally respectful approaches to healthcare.
Nearly 200 people across the university are involved in developing the school of medicine proposal, a comprehensive, university-wide endeavor.
“I want to thank everyone in our community who has helped to get us to this major milestone,” said President Lachemi. “I also want to thank the entire Toronto Metropolitan University community for their input to the vision for the school of medicine. We conducted community town halls with more than 6,500 participants, over 250 people took part in online surveys and 200,000 people were reached virtually to ensure that the voices of our community members were heard. I thank you for collaborating on this monumental project.”
The university school of medicine planning committee continues to move forward in this multi-year process. They are regularly consulting with the province, the Ontario Ministry of Health, and community leaders in Brampton. The team is currently in discussions with the city of Brampton to confirm a location for the school.
This story originally appeared in Toronto Metropolitan University Today on March 15, 2022.