By Dylan Marks
On Sept. 27, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) announced that their new School of Medicine would be launching online applications for its Doctor of Medicine (MD) program Oct. 9, for its first student cohort starting September 2025.
The School of Medicine will be located in Brampton, Ont. at the former Bramalea Civic Centre which has been under construction since April 2024.
The location is set to be ready for learners in the school’s residency programs in July 2025 and for MD students in September 2025.
The School of Medicine will be home to medical students and a primary care clinic.
During its first year, the school will have 94 undergraduate and 105 post-graduate seats available, both of which will open in July 2025.
TMU’s School of Medicine has been granted preliminary accreditation for their MD program by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools. This makes it the 18th accredited medical school in Canada thus far.
“This week’s preliminary accreditation announcement is the culmination of years of work by the School of Medicine team,” said TMU President Mohamed Lachemi.
He also said this milestone moves the School of Medicine closer to welcoming future doctors and equipping them to lead innovation, challenge norms and drive change in the healthcare system.
This will be the first new medical school to open in the Greater Toronto Area in over a century, with one of the primary goals being to address the shortage of primary care physicians in Ontario.
According to the Ontario Medical Association, 2.3 million Ontarians have no family doctor, with that number set to nearly double in the next two years. They also said that there are more than 2,500 physicians needed in Ontario currently.
The new School of Medicine plans to select students by considering both their academic performance and personal experiences. They are working to admit students from underrepresented groups and look for students who want to work in primary care.
These include applicants who identify as Indigenous, Black or other equity-deserving groups.
“We have developed intentional application and admissions processes that have the school’s mission at their core and that reflect community and societal needs,” said Dean of TMU’s School of Medicine and Vice-President of Medical Affairs, Teresa M. Chan.
Interim Assistant Dean of Recruitment & Admissions at the new School of Medicine, Dominick Shelton stated, “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.”
Shelton also said the new School of Medicine is dedicated to making sure the application process is inclusive and supportive for individuals who experience systemic bias.
Since the announcement of the new School of Medicine, TMU has made partnerships with several primary care clinics including William Osler Health System, Trillium Health Partners, Headwaters Health Care Centre and Halton Healthcare.
According to the school, “Dozens of primary care clinical sites have also indicated their intent to work with TMU’s School of Medicine with more joining every day.”
Led by architectural firm Diamond Schmitt, this project includes designs for simulation-based training lab spaces as well as an integrated health centre, which will give residents of Brampton access to quality medical care.
Detailed admissions information is available on the school’s website, via the Ontario Medical School Application Service.
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