TMU signs three partnership agreements that will advance health-care education
From left: Caroline Lidstone-Jones, CEO, IPHCC; Dr. Jamaica Cass, Indigenous health lead, School of Medicine; Mohamed Lachemi, president and vice-chancellor, TMU; Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, provost and vice-president, academic, TMU; and Dr. Teresa Chan, founding dean, School of Medicine, at a signing ceremony to announce a collaborative relationship agreement to eliminate health inequities and disparities for Indigenous Peoples in Ontario.
In alignment with TMU’s focus on health-care education, which includes the opening of its School of Medicine in Brampton next year, the university has signed three important partnership agreements with representation from across Ontario. Each agreement solidifies the institution’s approach to collaborative and culturally relevant learning opportunities.
Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
TMU entered into a collaborative relationship agreement with the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC), an Indigenous-governed, culture-based, and Indigenous-informed organization that supports the advancement of Indigenous primary health-care services throughout Ontario.
The agreement solidifies a mutual commitment to eliminate health inequities and disparities for Indigenous peoples in Ontario through the effective and informed use of education, data and resources.
The IPHCC and TMU will work together to foster comprehensive and culturally safe education and innovation in Indigenous community health. Knowledge exchange and the IPHCC’s insights regarding health-care priorities for Indigenous communities will facilitate the integration of Indigenous approaches to the Integrated Health Centres that will be part of TMU’s school of medicine.
The Future of Healthcare Initiative
Leadership from both TMU and the Peel District School Board, pictured here (from left - Kiaras Gharabaghi, dean, Faculty of Community Services; Dr. Teresa Chan, founding dean, School of Medicine; Rashmi Swarup, director of education, Peel District School Board; and David Green, executive director, Peel District School Board), were on-hand to announce the Future of Healthcare Initiative last December.
The Peel District School Board and several departments within TMU - the School of Medicine, Faculty of Community Services and Student Affairs - are collaborating on the Future of Healthcare Initiative. The project allows students to explore, engage and experience the field of health care through mentorship and coaching, a speaker series, a university course offering, and experiential learning opportunities. The aim is to encourage students to consider post-secondary education and careers in health care and related fields.
This initiative also includes an admissions pathway that intends to strengthen and increase the volume of applications from students from diverse backgrounds and equity-deserving communities to programs including those in science, community services and medicine. The first program components are set to launch in September of this year.
Northern Ontario School of Medicine University
Dr. Sarita Verma, president and vice-chancellor, NOSM University (second from left) joins Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano (left), Mohamed Lachemi (centre) and Dr. Teresa Chan (far right) at an affiliation agreement signing event between TMU and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Most recently, TMU entered into an affiliation agreement with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University, Canada’s first independent medical university, located in Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ont.
The affiliation agreement, signed in January, sets out to build a collaborative and reciprocal relationship that leverages the expertise of both organizations to establish a framework that supports a forward-thinking approach to medical education.
The agreement has a three-year term with the intention to collaborate on important medical school elements like residency training, undergraduate, postgraduate, continuous professional development and research development as well as faculty engagement and feedback.