Toronto Metropolitan University’s New School of Medicine Launches Admission Applications
Sep. 27, 2024, Toronto, ON - Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) today announced that the new School of Medicine will launch online applications for its MD program on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, and will welcome its first MD students September 2025.
The first new medical school to open in the Greater Toronto Area in over a century, TMU’s medical school aims to address the shortage of primary care physicians in Ontario, as well as transform medical education through a focus on community engagement and inclusivity.
“This week’s preliminary accreditation announcement is the culmination of years of work by the School of Medicine team, and by TMU more broadly, to realize a new approach to medical education. This major milestone brings the School of Medicine even closer to opening its doors to the next generation of doctors, and to empowering them to innovate, disrupt and drive change within the health-care system,” said Mohamed Lachemi, TMU President and Vice-Chancellor.
As a pipeline to the medical profession, TMU’s new School of Medicine has adopted equitable student recruitment processes and holistic admissions based on academic performance and life experience. The school will purposefully admit equity-deserving students and identify applicants interested in primary care practice, particularly in medically underserved areas.
“Training innovative, inclusive physicians starts at recruitment. With that in mind, we have developed intentional application and admissions processes that have the school’s mission at their core, and that reflect community and societal needs,” said Dr. Teresa M. Chan, Dean, TMU School of Medicine and Vice-President, Medical Affairs.
Through targeted admissions pathways for applicants who identify as Indigenous, Black or another equity-deserving group, the school is working to address persistent underrepresentation in medical schools and the medical profession more broadly.
Located in Brampton—a diverse and rapidly growing community shaped by increased immigration—TMU’s new School of Medicine offers a unique opportunity to address healthcare disparities and improve outcomes for racialized and vulnerable communities. The school will foster an inclusive, equitable and community-focused system, increasing healthcare capacity, in particular for underserved populations.
Since the School of Medicine was announced, TMU has secured several valuable partnerships with primary care clinics. William Osler Health System is the school’s primary clinical partner and TMU has signed affiliation agreements with Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga and western Toronto, Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville, Halton Healthcare and the Region of Peel. Dozens of primary care clinical sites have also indicated their intent to work with TMU’s School of Medicine with more joining every day.
The former Bramalea Civic Centre will be transformed into a state-of-the-art medical school that will be home to medical students and a primary care clinic. The capital project, led by Diamond Schmitt, includes designs for simulation-based training lab spaces and an integrated health centre that will provide access to quality medical care to residents of Brampton.
Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Surjit Babra and his wife Remy Babra have made an early gift of $1 million to help establish TMU’s new School of Medicine, marking a significant investment in the future of healthcare. To recognize their support, TMU will name the School’s largest Active Learning Classroom ‘The Surjit and Remy Babra Classroom,’ designed to foster innovative, engaging and interactive learning experiences.
The school will have 94 undergraduate seats and 105 postgraduate seats. The School of Medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University opens in July 2025.
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Additional Quote:
“Our admissions pathways are designed to account for systemic bias in applicant review processes and eliminate barriers to success for these groups in the medical school admissions process. We are also committed to ensuring that the pathways provide an inclusive and supportive process for applicants from these groups.” – Dr. Dominick Shelton, Interim Assistant Dean, Recruitment & Admissions
About Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) 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 over 240,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit torontomu.ca.
School of Medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University
The School of Medicine is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities across Ontario and Canada, with a focus on the primary care needs of diverse and medically underserved populations, through community-engaged education, scholarship and service. For more information, visit torontomu.ca/school-of-medicine.
Media Contact:
Tania Ulrich (she/her)
PR & Communications Specialist
Central Communications
Toronto Metropolitan University
tulrich@torontomu.ca
M: 647-785-0984