Ontario government confirms Ryerson University school of medicine in Brampton

Province invests in major expansion to medical school education and enrolment

March 15, 2022

March 15, 2022 - BRAMPTON - Today the Ontario government announced it will be moving forward with Ryerson University’s school of medicine in Brampton. The province also announced a commitment to expand the number of medical school seats available to students. Ryerson will receive 80 undergraduate seats and 95 postgraduate seats. This is part of a larger provincial initiative (external link) to ensure there are enough doctors to meet future needs, especially in underserved communities.

“Ryerson University will offer a new approach to medical education in Ontario — one that draws on the university’s commitment to community, diversity and inclusion, and innovation to address the changing needs for healthcare delivery and practice,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi. “We are encouraged and grateful for this announcement of long-term investment by the government of Ontario and we look forward to shaping the future of healthcare with our partners in Brampton and Peel region.”

"As a growing city with pressing healthcare 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."

Ryerson University’s future school of medicine is rooted in five major pillars, including:

Focusing on community centric primary care and the social determinants of health
Providing more culturally respectful care to communities
Leveraging innovation and technology in practices to improve quality of care and patient outcomes
Providing future physicians with the skills to develop interdisciplinary networks of healthcare to achieve better outcomes for patients in the communities
Focusing on the aging and supporting seniors as a growing portion of our society gets older

After extensive community input, the university completed an official Letter of Intent for the school of medicine in March, 2022. The university’s school of medicine planning committee has been working with, and informing, the province regularly on its proposal and will move onto the next phase of development in the multi-year planning process. Ryerson is working with the City of Brampton to determine a future location for the school of medicine, which aims to accept students in the fall of 2025.

In total, Ontario will add 160 undergraduate seats and 295 postgraduate positions over the next five years at several Ontario-based institutions, including Ryerson. It is the largest expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate education in over 10 years.

For more information on Ryerson’s future school of medicine, visit: https://www.torontomu.ca/school-of-medicine/

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About Ryerson University*:
Ryerson University is Canada’s leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the University is home to more than 46,000 students, including 2,900 Master’s and PhD students, 4,000 faculty and staff, and 225,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit ryerson.ca.

*Renaming in process.

Media inquiries:
Jessica Leach
Ryerson University
416-704-2166
jleach@torontomu.ca