Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is partnering with York University’s new school of medicine to strengthen healthcare across Muskoka.
The partnership announcement follows a $55.8-million provincial investment to support the planning and operations of the university’s new School of Medicine, which officials said will be Ontario’s first medical school dedicated to training family doctors.
“Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is excited to partner with York University’s School of Medicine to help strengthen the future of family medicine in Muskoka and surrounding regions,” said Cheryl Harrison, president and CEO, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare. “We are grateful to York University and the Province of Ontario for their commitment to training the next generation of family physicians and improving access to care close to home.”
According to officials, the investment will fund the new school’s accreditation, curriculum development, faculty recruitment, establishing a medical library, training costs and operating costs for its undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Officials said the school is expected to open in 2028 and will bolster Ontario’s pipeline of highly skilled primary care providers, helping fulfill Ontario’s commitment to ensure that everyone who wants to have a primary care provider can access one.
Additionally, when the school opens, officials said it will have 80 undergraduate seats and 102 postgraduate seats, growing to 240 undergraduate seats and 293 postgraduate seats at full capacity.
“Ontario-trained family doctors are the backbone of our health-care system, providing compassionate care for our loved ones from everyday checkups to life’s greatest challenges,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This investment will ensure that Ontario has a strong pipeline of family care providers to deliver excellent care for decades to come.”
The province said with the addition of the York University School of Medicine, Ontario will have eight medical schools and is expected to have a total of 1,292 undergraduate and 1,739 postgraduate seats once the medical expansion initiatives reach maturity in 2033.
