News
NOSM University Board Reappoints Chair and Vice-Chair
The NOSM University Board of Governors has reappointed John P. Stenger as Chair and Susan Soldan as Vice-Chair, providing continuity and experienced leadership as the university advances its strategic priorities and its vision of health equity across the North. Stenger has provided steady leadership as Board Chair, while Soldan has brought extensive experience to her role as Vice-Chair. Together, they have supported effective governance as NOSM University expands its programs, deepens partnerships, and advances innovation that improves access to health care across the region. Initially appointed to one-year terms in November 2025, ...
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NOSM University Medical Learners Connect with Northern Recruiters
An event designed to support physician recruitment in the North brought together NOSM University medical learners and health-care recruiters on Friday, October 23, 2026. The Northern Ontario Community Concierge and Connection Event promoted career opportunities for physicians and training opportunities for medical learners. Studies, including a long-term study at NOSM University, show that medical learners are most likely to stay where they have trained. Recruiters attended from more than 20 communities across Northern Ontario—from Kenora and Sioux Lookout in the Northwest to Hearst, Timmins, and Mattawa in the Northeast. T...
Read how learners and communities build connections.
NOSM University Reappoints Dr. Cindy Blackstock as Chancellor
NOSM University’s Board of Governors has announced the reappointment of Dr. Cindy Blackstock as Chancellor, continuing the leadership she has provided since her appointment as the university’s inaugural Chancellor in 2022. As ceremonial head of the university, Dr. Blackstock has been a respected advocate, mentor, and ambassador, and has helped advance the university's commitment to social accountability, Indigenous inclusion, and health equity across Northern Ontario. A member of the Gitxsan Nation, Dr. Blackstock is an internationally recognized advocate for Indigenous children's rights and was the 2023 recipient of the Wo...
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Dr. Melanie Squarzolo Appointed Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs, Clinical Sciences
NOSM University has named Dr. Melanie Squarzolo as the new Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs, Clinical Sciences, effective October 1, 2026. A member of the inaugural class of NOSM University’s Emergency Medicine residency program, Dr. Squarzolo graduated from the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in 2005 and completed the University of Ottawa’s Northern Ontario Family Medicine residency program. She is proud to serve her home community of Sudbury as an emergency medicine physician at Health Sciences North. An Associate Professor at NOSM University, Dr. Squarzolo has nearly two decades of experience in em...
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Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Honours NOSM University Student
Mohamed Alzahran, NOSM University medical student, has been awarded the prestigious Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) Award for 2026. The award recognizes a second-year student from each medical school across Canada who exemplifies perseverance, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Recipients have an established track record of community leadership, superior communication skills, and demonstrated interest in advancing knowledge. “I came to Canada in 2016 as a Syrian refugee,” says Alzahran. “My parents left behind everything they had built, their home, their careers, their entire world, and fled with my siblings an...
Read more about the CMHF Award.
Laurentian University and NOSM University Partner with Noojmowin Teg Health Centre to Advance Anishinaabe Brain-Heart Health Research with $1.35M CIHR Grant
Laurentian University and NOSM University are proud to announce a significant research award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Dr. Marion Maar, cross-appointed to Laurentian University and Professor in the Human Sciences Division and Medical Anthropologist at NOSM University, has been awarded $1.354 million to collaborate with Noojmowin Teg Health Centre over four years as the Nominated Principal Applicant for a groundbreaking Indigenous health initiative. The project, titled “Naanaagidewendimowin - DREAM Wellness: Co-Creating an Anishinaabe Brain-Heart Health and Wellness Model of Care for Elders, Designed to ...
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NOSM University Celebrates New Dietetics Graduates
In a ceremony on Friday, July 24, NOSM University celebrated the achievements of six new dietetics graduates. Registered Dietitians (RDs) are essential members of the health-care team who work alongside physicians, nurses, and other professionals to prevent and manage illness through evidence-based nutrition care. Their expertise improves patient outcomes, supports chronic disease management, and helps people live healthier lives. Following the pandemic, RD vacancies have risen five-fold, with approximately 45 positions currently unfilled across Northern Ontario. NOSM University's Dietetic Practicum Program (DPP) is highly effective a...
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NOSM University and OPSEU Local 677 (Unit 1) Ratify Three-Year Collective Agreement
NOSM University and the NOSM University Faculty and Staff Association (NUFSA), represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 677 (Unit 1), are pleased to announce a new three-year collective agreement covering full-time faculty, librarians and professional staff at the University. Formal negotiations began in May 2026, with the parties reaching a tentative agreement on July 16, 2026. The agreement was subsequently presented to the NOSM University Board of Governors and members of OPSEU Local 677 (Unit 1) for ratification. Both OPSEU members and the Board of Governors voted in favour of the new collective a...
Read more about the agreement.