York U advances plans for School of Medicine

TORONTO – York University and Greater Toronto Area (GTA) health sector and local government leaders are signalling positive momentum and growing support for a new School of Medicine at York that will focus on training family and community doctors in an integrated setting.

Medical and health curriculum and research will support this integrated and preventive model for healthcare, which aims to promote care beyond the walls of hospital facilities. The model is expected to create greater health equity for diverse communities in the GTA and underserved communities across Canada, including the more than one million Ontarians who do not have access to primary care.

“As we contemplate the public health demands of today and tomorrow, we know that innovative community collaborations, modern medical education and integrated health services will be vitally important. New medical schools can help to take the lead in making some of the structural changes that are necessary in the system,” says York University president and vice-chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton (pictured).

“York University has long been a leader in health education and research, and we look forward to working with partners across the region to build on this strong foundation as we create a new model for healthcare that will better serve the current and future public health needs of the GTA and the country.”

Long known for its interdisciplinary approach to research, teaching and learning, York University possesses significant depth and breadth of academic programming and research, providing a solid foundation for a modern medical school.

York’s Faculty of Health includes one of Canada’s largest Nursing and Nurse Practitioner programs, as well as outstanding bachelor and graduate degrees in psychology, kinesiology and health sciences, global health, health studies, health policy and management, health informatics, critical disability studies and neuroscience.

The University is home to centres of research excellence in antimicrobial resistance, disease modelling, data visualization, advanced robotics, global health, healthy aging, and muscle health, among others. York’s Centre for Vision Research is world-renowned and has an expansive network of global health partners. IP Osgoode provides thought leadership on the ownership, use and governance of data, including personal health data.

York’s many strengths in basic and applied health research are fuelling successful innovation, commercialization and collaborative community-centred partnerships.

York recently launched an innovative health collaboration with Mackenzie Health that aims to enhance health services, research and innovation, and health outcomes for York Region residents through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In 2019, the University further strengthened ties with the City of Vaughan to collaborate on its Healthcare Centre Precinct, which allows for a York campus focused on training the future health workforce in York Region.

To learn more, visit https://www.yorku.ca/medicine/

“Toronto is known around the world for its strong healthcare and medical sector. To have York University – an institution in our city – be home to our next medical school makes sense and will ensure Toronto continues to expand its healthcare sector and the innovation that comes with it,” said John Tory, mayor, City of Toronto.

“North York General Hospital is excited to support York University’s vision for a School of Medicine and to expand our partnership to meet our growing community’s health needs. With its commitment to interdisciplinary practice and focus on the social determinants of health, York University is positioned to play an even greater role in promoting healthy communities across the GTA,” said Karyn Popovich, president and CEO, North York General Hospital.