TMU School of Medicine’s MD program granted preliminary accreditation
Dr. Nirosshan Thiruchelvam, shown demonstrating with an anatomical model, is a clinical faculty member who helped to develop the TMU Internal Medicine residency program. Photo: Anna Li
TMU’s School of Medicine hit a major milestone today when the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) (external link) granted preliminary accreditation for its MD program, making it the 18th accredited medical school in Canada. With preliminary accreditation granted, the School of Medicine can now begin recruiting prospective students for its first cohort in September 2025. Detailed admissions information is available on the school’s website, with applications to open on Wednesday, October 9 via the Ontario Medical School Application Service (external link) .
The four-year MD curriculum is rooted in community-driven care and cultural respect and safety, with equity, diversity and inclusion, decolonization and Reconciliation woven throughout. Through active, inquiry-based learning, the school will help train innovative, well-rounded physicians who are responsive to societal and community needs.
“Today’s 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,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi. “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.”
A multifaceted, holistic admissions approach
The first round of MD admissions for the School of Medicine will run on a different timeline from other Canadian medical schools, offering a later application deadline of December 2, 2024 for the same 2025 entry. The MD program offers 94 seats.
“Training innovative, inclusive physicians starts at recruitment,” said Dr. Teresa Chan, dean of the School of Medicine and vice-president, medical affairs. “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.”
The school will use a multifaceted, holistic approach to identify students possessing the necessary academic capabilities, interpersonal skills and personal attributes required to excel in medicine. The admissions process will also purposefully admit equity-deserving students and identify applicants interested in primary care practice, particularly in medically underserved areas.
Recognizing that many groups face barriers in both applying and being admitted to medical school, the School of Medicine has created three dedicated admissions pathways in addition to the General Admissions Stream:
- Indigenous Admissions Pathway
- Black Admissions Pathway
- Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway
“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,” said Dr. Dominick Shelton, interim assistant dean, recruitment & admissions. “We are also committed to ensuring that the pathways provide an inclusive and supportive process for applicants from these groups.”
Visit the School of Medicine’s website for detailed admissions information.
Journey to opening in 2025 well underway
The School of Medicine has celebrated several other milestones as it gets ready to welcome medical learners next year. Many of these milestones have been made possible by the tremendous support the school has received from the communities it will serve.
In addition to working with William Osler Health System as its primary clinical partner, the School of Medicine has finalized affiliation agreements with Trillium Health Partners, Headwaters Health Care Centre, Halton Healthcare, and the Region of Peel. These affiliations represent more than 10 major clinical sites across the western GTA and offer medical learners a diverse range of training opportunities. Dozens of primary care clinical sites have also indicated their intent to work with TMU’s School of Medicine with more joining every day. Physicians have demonstrated their eagerness to train the next generation of doctors: to date, the School of Medicine has received over 500 applications for clinical faculty appointments.
The school has also listed its residency programs on the Canadian Resident Matching Service on the way to welcoming its inaugural class of 105 residents in July 2025. In keeping with the School of Medicine’s mission to increase health-care capacity in Brampton and its surrounding communities, residency programs offered focus on family medicine and high-demand specialties.
Working together to transform medical education
The School of Medicine builds on the university's foundation of excellence and leadership in health education across various faculties. Stakeholders from across the TMU community, including faculty, staff, and students, have been purposefully and meaningfully engaged in the planning process. The school has also had over 30,000 touchpoints with community members, physicians, local faith and cultural groups, Indigenous organizations and more, gathering insights that have shaped the School of Medicine’s mission to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.
The school is thankful to all who have contributed to its considerable progress with their knowledge, expertise and dedication, and looks forward to continuing this collaborative spirit well beyond the opening of its doors next year. Find out how you can be part of the School of Medicine’s journey as a learner, faculty member, donor, community member or partner on the school’s website.