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Program Objectives

The MD program aims to prepare physicians for the changing landscape of healthcare, cultivate a culture of learning and growth, and enhance accessibility and support.

Training Future-Ready Physicians

We aim to prepare graduates who:

  • Are clinically competent and compassionate physicians who act with the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice to meet the healthcare needs of all, including the unique needs, health practices and traditional care models of Indigenous, Black, and other equity-deserving and medically underserved populations.
  • Embrace generalism as a key pillar to all clinical learning and graduates’ practice as a means to prioritize primary care as a career choice.
  • Advocate for health systems transformation and social justice and address the social determinants of health, with an understanding of health systems and exclusionary systemic barriers at an individual, institutional and population level.
  • Are trained in cultural safety, anti-racism, anti-oppression, trauma and violence-informed approaches, social justice, and rights-based approaches to health to better serve patients, families and communities as co-creators, allies and advocates.
  • Work collaboratively with patients, families and communities by providing high-quality, patient-centred care through meaningful and integrated clinical training in interprofessional community settings.
  • Apply leading technological practices in medicine ethically with a focus on improving quality of care and patient outcomes.
  • Address the unique needs of an aging population to support aging with dignity in the community, provide holistic care, promote health and well-being, and deliver mental health services at a primary care level.
  • Possess the knowledge and skills to improve the environmental sustainability of health systems and to advocate for and address the interconnected impact of climate change on the health of patients, families, communities, health systems and the planet.
  • Understand and reflect on the unique histories and current contexts for Indigenous health and demonstrate a commitment to Reconciliation and decolonization of health systems through cultural humility and ongoing reflection in their practice, as well as through ongoing, reciprocal partnerships and a continuous process of co-creation with Indigenous communities.

We aim to promote a learning environment that will:

  • Foster critical thinking, inquiry and evidence-based decisions using the latest technology and data-driven reflective practices.
  • Provide meaningful and integrated teaching and learning experiences and research training in clinical, patient and community-centred settings that reflect community health needs and promote person-centred and community-based healthcare.
  • Foster deep learning and support students’ professional development through a competency-based, active and experiential learning medical education model with programmatic assessments.
  • Promote a culture of inclusion, humility, engagement and mutual respect.
  • Foster an environment that supports the health, well-being, and resilience of students and the individuals who teach, mentor and support them.
  • Encourage reflexivity, continuous growth and improvement at the personal, professional and institutional level.

We aim to establish an environment of inclusion through:

  • Provision of equal access to students who are underrepresented in medicine (especially students who are Indigenous, Black and from other equity-deserving backgrounds) and support their development.
  • Advancement of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) into clinical practice to augment physician supply and to enhance the diversity of the physician workforce.

Consistency of Program Objectives with University Mission and Academic Plan

The University has a proven ability to foster new ways of thinking, learning and innovating, including its highly regarded experiential learning programs and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Indeed, delivering innovative solutions to address societal needs is at the core of TMU’s mission: “the advancement of knowledge and research to address societal need, and the provision of programs of study that provide a balance between theory and application that prepare students for careers in professional and quasi-professional fields.”

The University is a leader in shaping a sustainable and equitable future through tackling real-world problems, forging strong partnerships and fostering innovative solutions. Grounding this strategic direction are the University’s objectives outlined in the Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) Act:

  1. The advancement of learning, and the intellectual, social, moral, cultural, spiritual and physical development of the University's students and employees, and the betterment of society.

  2. The advancement of applied knowledge and SRC activities in response to existing and emerging societal needs and in support of the cultural, economic, social and technological development of Ontario.

  3. The provision of programs of study that provide a balance between theory and application and that prepare students for careers in professional and quasi-professional fields.

By serving as a city builder and innovator, the University’s academic priorities are focused on the student experience, SRC activity and graduate studies, advancing Indigenous initiatives, innovation through continuing to challenge the status quo, and community and urban partnerships. Through these activities, the University is committed to making an impact and driving meaningful change within its community, nationally and globally. As outlined in the University’s Vision 2030 and its Academic Plan, these activities translate into the following seven core values that drive the University’s ongoing development:

  1. Excellence: The University aspires to excellence, both inside and outside the classroom, in a way that is positive and authentic.
  2. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Access: Teaching, learning and SRC at the University are influenced by the diversity of ideas and experiences that community members bring, and a commitment to equity is embedded in everything we do.
  3. Mutual Respect & Shared Success: Respect and a commitment to shared success underpins how community members work together and treat one another.
  4. Sustainability: Sustainability involves behaving in ways that reflect our responsibility to future generations.
  5. Boldness: The University champions creativity, innovation and ingenuity, encouraging students, faculty and staff to think boldly, take initiative and demonstrate resourcefulness.
  6. Well-being: TMU encourages the success of its community by creating a safe, secure, collegial, healthy, and inclusive environment that puts people first.
  7. Access: The University is committed to providing access to education and employment opportunities, particularly for those from marginalized, under-represented and equity-seeking groups.