Senate approves Doctor of Medicine degree program at TMU
The school of medicine program will graduate future physicians focused on meeting the primary care needs of diverse, equity-deserving and medically underserved populations.
TMU took one step closer to opening its new medical school in fall 2025 this week, as Senate approved the proposed undergraduate medical education (UGME) program on May 30. The program will address the urgent need to train physicians with the skills, knowledge and abilities to lead health care transformation and build a more integrated, coordinated system for Ontario.
“Our vision for a bold new model of medical training in Ontario will emphasize an outcomes-based approach with a focus on experiential learning, interprofessional education and clinical skills training in community and hospital settings,” says provost and vice-president, academic Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano. “We are committed to ensuring our graduates become compassionate, culturally-respectful and future-ready clinicians who provide outstanding person-centred care.”
The four-year curriculum is designed to prepare students for clinical experience from day one, building their foundational knowledge of clinical, social and health system sciences, and immersing them in clinical experiential learning ahead of residency.
To support students in gaining clinical experience, the school of medicine will establish Integrated Health Centres (IHCs) that will provide primary care in Brampton and the northwest Greater Toronto Area. These IHCs will serve as a community-based experiential learning environment to train students in interprofessional care and practice. Students will also be placed in a variety of community settings from their first year, to gain exposure to diverse populations and learn their health-care needs.
A total of 94 undergraduate and 105 postgraduate seats of residency match will be available each year. The admissions process is being developed to align with the school’s mission, with equity, diversity and inclusion, Reconciliation and health equity intentionally embedded across all aspects. The school will purposefully admit a high number of equity-deserving students interested in primary care practice, particularly in medically underserved communities.
Community-informed plan
The admissions approach will focus on removing barriers faced by equity-deserving students and honouring the lived experiences of diverse applicants. Purposeful admissions streams and pathways will exist for Black and Indigenous applicants, as well as applicants who self-identify as belonging to local equity-deserving communities. Admissions pathways will be explored that recognize the value and skill set of internationally trained health-care professionals.
Students admitted to the school of medicine will have access to dedicated programming and services to support them through every step of their studies. Extensive resources in peer support, peer mentoring, counselling and other academic and health support will be in place to ensure those who start their journey in medical education can complete it, regardless of the challenges they may face along the way.
The entire planning process has been community-informed, with the school of medicine collecting and integrating feedback into the design of the program. To date, the school of medicine has had more than 20,000 touchpoints with the TMU and Brampton community members and health care professionals. That includes more than 700 physician touchpoints.
“These consultations emphasize TMU’s commitment to building the school with the communities it will serve,” says president and vice-chancellor Mohamed Lachemi. “What we do in Brampton will set the standard for inclusive and innovative medical education and health-care transformation.”
Approval by TMU Senate is just one of many milestones that the school of medicine has been working towards. The next steps will be to bring the MD program forward to the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance at the end of June, and to gain approval from the TMU Board of Governors. The medical school also continues to work on preliminary accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (external link) (CACMS).
To learn more, visit the school of medicine website.
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