York University continues to work closely with community, government and health sector partners to seek input that will inform the vision and concept for a new School of Medicine.
As part of this collaboration, the University is gathering input on its conceptual proposal for the School of Medicine and the broader potential for the University at the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. To date, the University has held three consultation sessions.
- All University faculty and staff were invited to participate in the first session on March 14 (learn more).
- A session for community health organizations was held on March 25.
- A town hall for residents and community members from across the region was held on April 19 (watch the town hall).
During the April 19 virtual town hall, close to 200 residents from York Region, as well as Muskoka, North Toronto, Simcoe and other GTA communities, provided input into how a School of Medicine at York University could help solve current challenges in the health care system.
The University’s conceptual proposal envisions an educational model centred on improving health equity for diverse communities in the proposed catchment area and underserved communities across Canada. The University envisions a school committed to community-based primary care that will keep more people healthy longer and living in their communities. Programming for the school will be developed through the University’s formal collegial governance processes with the overarching goals of having curriculum and research support an integrated and preventive model for health care, which aims to promote care beyond the walls of hospital facilities.
The April 19 town hall participants engaged in discussions with York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, Vice-President Research & Innovation Amir Asif and Provost & Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps, and voiced broad support for the proposal, which focuses on the education of medical students in community and primary care settings to deliver comprehensive team-based care to patients.
Town hall participants were asked for feedback on the proposal, and for insight into current and future health care matters, including whether they have access to a local family doctor, how the health care system can improve, and why a medical school is essential.
“York University possesses a significant depth and breadth of health-related academic programming and research, which provides a strong foundation for a modern medical school,” said Lenton. “We are grateful to the nearly 200 community members who joined us for the town hall for providing us with critical insights into how our proposed School of Medicine can rethink, reform and redesign medical education in ways that will improve the health and health care experiences of individuals in the underserved and growing areas of North Toronto, York Region and Simcoe/Muskoka, and drive positive change in the communities we serve.”
The ideas shared will help drive the vision and concept for the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the School of Medicine. All University and community members who were not able to attend the town halls are invited to provide their feedback.
Together with input from community health organizations and the York University community, the information collected will be considered in the development of a comprehensive business proposal in consultation with the respective Faculties and collegial governance bodies.
More information and updates on planning can be found on the School of Medicine website.