The new School of Medicine at York University is now scheduled to open in 2028 marking a significant development in medical education within Canada. This new institution will be the first of its kind in the country, focusing primarily on the training of family physicians. The announcement was made at the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct.
The initiative, which aligns with broader efforts to enhance healthcare services in the region, was supported by $9 million in start-up funding allocated in the provincial budget for 2024.
The school will have 80 undergraduate spots and 102 postgraduate spots when the doors open in 2028, going up to 240 undergraduate seats and 293 postgraduate seats on an annual basis once operating at full capacity. By focusing on training primary care doctors, York University’s training model will devote approximately 70 per cent of the new postgraduate training seats to primary care.
“These new investments to support increased physician education in Ontario come at a critical time and mark an important milestone in York’s trajectory as an internationally recognized leader in higher education. Amidst growing demand for family doctors and other primary care general specialists, I want to thank Premier Ford and his government for being responsive to this pressing need, for their vision and clear commitment to York’s School of Medicine – and a healthier future for Ontarians,” said Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor, in a statement.
The City of Vaughan has played a pivotal role in this development by agreeing to transfer the necessary land for the school’s construction to York University. The new facility will be located adjacent to Mackenzie Health’s Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital within the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. This strategic placement is expected to facilitate close collaboration between the university and healthcare providers.
“Today is an exciting day for the City of Vaughan and the province of Ontario. I was thrilled to join Premier Ford to officially announce the approval and funding of York University’s School of Medicine, located in the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct (VHCP),” said Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca. “When ready, this new School of Medicine will help address the much-needed doctor shortage in our community. I want to thank the Premier, the Government of Ontario and York University for today’s funding announcement as part of the Ontario Government’s 2024 Budget.”
Over the past 15 years, York University has significantly expanded its health and health-related programs across various faculties. The Faculty of Health, in particular, will be instrumental in leading the educational and research initiatives of the new York medical school, highlighting York University’s ongoing investment in healthcare excellence.