Welcome to 2026: Turning Up the Volume on What Matters Most

Hello, Aanin, Boozhoo, Tanshi, Kwe Kwe, Bonjour,

Playing and listening to music has been a part of my life since a very early age. I will start this year’s blog with the idea of turning up the volume, not for noise, but for clarity.  In both classical music (I am a violinist) and in my preferred rock genre of heavy metal, raising the volume to fortissimo (or up past 11 to quote Spinal Tap), is used so the message can be felt and heard.  It has purpose—driving home a theme or message of importance.  The same is true of equity and social accountability—core values for NOSM University that are embedded in our enabling legislation and programs. When the stakes are high and voices risk being unheard, we must amplify our commitment and stand firmly behind what we believe in. As we welcome 2026, that belief continues to guide our work at NOSM University.

Over the past year, the University has continued to grow, not only in size, but in impact. We have expanded our education and training capacity, strengthened our research enterprise, and deepened partnerships across Northern Ontario. Each step forward reflects a clear focus on improving access to health care and advancing health equity for the communities we serve.

That momentum is reflected in the recent government announcement supporting the planning of five new Primary Care Teaching Clinics in Northern Ontario. These clinics represent an important step toward strengthening team-based primary care while training the next generation of providers in the communities where they are most needed. For NOSM University, this work aligns directly with our mission, embedding learners in community settings, reinforcing local health systems, and helping more people across the North connect to primary care closer to home.

Our progress is grounded in purpose. We educate and train physicians who understand the realities of Northern, rural, Indigenous, and Francophone communities and who are committed to serving them. Through our distributed, community-based model of medical education, learners and residents are embedded across the North, where they build relationships, develop skills, and deepen their responsibility to the people and places they serve.

Equity remains central to everything we do. Advancing fairness in health care and education is complex work, and meaningful change does not happen overnight. It requires persistence, courage, and sustained commitment. In 2026, we are turning up the volume on equity, ensuring inclusion, cultural safety, and social accountability are reflected in action, not intention.

Growth and expansion depend on collaboration. Our progress is made possible through strong partnerships with Indigenous communities, Francophone organizations, health system leaders, educators, and governments. Together, we are strengthening the Northern Ontario health workforce, supporting research that responds to regional priorities, and contributing to a more resilient and responsive health system.

As we look ahead, it is clear that momentum alone is not enough. Sustained impact requires the right conditions, clear priorities, and ongoing investment to ensure initiatives like Primary Care Teaching Clinics can move from planning to lasting change.

In 2026, we will continue to build on this momentum, guided by our values, informed by our communities, and driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality health care close to home.

Thank you to our learners, faculty, staff, alumni, partners, and supporters. Your dedication and collaboration make this work possible. Together, we will continue to amplify what matters most and move forward with purpose and conviction.

Here’s to a year of continued growth, expansion, and impact, and to turning up the volume together on equity in a steady, powerful, and lasting way.

Warm regards,

Dr. Michael Green
President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO
NOSM University

If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at president@nosm.ca and follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @DrMichaelGreen1.

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 Tuesday, February 3, 2026

 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ET)

 Live on YouTube: @NOSMtv

Open to all and free to attend.