NOSM University announces a $5 million transformational gift to advance Indigenous health equity through the creation of the Circle for Indigenous Health Research and Innovation, housed within the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity.

This investment reflects a commitment to advancing Indigenous health equity across Northern Ontario by supporting Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems, and community-driven approaches to research, education, and innovation. Grounded in the priorities and strengths of Indigenous Peoples, the Circle will foster Indigenous-led work that responds to Northern realities and supports the conditions that sustain health and wellbeing. The work recognizes the importance of place, relationship, and self-determination, and responds to longstanding calls for Indigenous leadership in health research, policy, and medical education.

“This remarkable gift allows NOSM University to take an important step forward in advancing reconciliation and health equity,” says Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean and CEO. “We are incredibly grateful to these donors for their trust in NOSM University and for supporting this important mission.”

The $5 million donation was made by anonymous donors whose generosity supports Indigenous-led solutions that improve health outcomes across Northern Ontario and advances equity, accountability, and reconciliation.

Guided by Indigenous partners and working closely with the Indigenous Affairs Office, the Circle will serve as a community-driven catalyst, empowering Indigenous-led research, education, advocacy, and transformative health system initiatives that honour the knowledge, priorities, and aspirations of Northern Ontario’s Indigenous communities.

Through the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity, the Circle will bring together Indigenous health organizations, Elders, community leaders, researchers, learners, and faculty.

“The Circle is grounded in Indigenous leadership and community governance, ensuring that community voices and priorities guide the work from the outset. This investment strengthens our ability to create lasting change across the North,” says Dr. Joseph LeBlanc, Associate Vice President, Equity and Inclusion at NOSM University.

Director of the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity, Dr. Erin Cameron notes the long-term significance of the gift. “This funding is about building the relationships, capacity, and accountability needed to build structures to support genuine research partnerships and collaboration. Supporting Indigenous-led research and innovation means investing in the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples and communities in the North for generations to come.”

A key initiative of the Circle will be the planning of an Indigenous Health Gathering in 2026, bringing together Indigenous leaders, Elders, health-care providers, researchers, and learners to share knowledge, set priorities, and strengthen partnerships, with reporting back to participating communities.

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About NOSM University
NOSM University is Canada’s first independent medical university and one of the greatest education and physician workforce strategy success stories of Northern Ontario. More than just a medical university, it was purpose-built to address the health needs of the region. While advocating for equitable access to care, the university contributes to the economic development of Northern Ontario. NOSM University relies on the commitment and expertise of the people of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practise in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote, and underserved communities. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy, NOSM University is an award-winning, socially accountable organization renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research.

About the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity
The Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health is a multidisciplinary centre of NOSM University dedicated to the improvement of health and wellness in Northern Ontario. Through policy leadership and advocacy, research and innovation, and education that better aligns medical training with community needs, the Centre is becoming a frontrunner in the improvement of sustainable equity, access, and population health outcomes. The national and international relevance of the Centre’s work will become recognized as its results are dispersed among practitioners, policy makers, and advocates in similarly challenged jurisdictions.

For further information, please contact:
NOSM University
Phone: 807-766-7535
Email: news@nosm.ca

Alumni Stories, In the Spotlight, Uncategorized

Dr. Cole Anderson appointed Family Medicine Self-Directed Program Director

Gallery Friday January 30th, 2026 Tara Hawkes

NOSM University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cole Anderson, Clinical Lecturer, as Family Medicine Self-Directed Program Director, effective January 1, 2026.

An alumnus of NOSM University’s MD and Family Medicine residency programs, Dr. Anderson later completed enhanced skills training in Emergency Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He currently practises as a staff emergency physician at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and provides locum emergency medicine services across Northwestern Ontario.

Dr. Anderson is actively engaged in medical education at NOSM University, with both the MD and residency program, with a strong focus on competency-based education, learner-centred curriculum design, and the advancement of distributed medical education. In his new role, he is committed to strengthening medical education at NOSM University and to supporting flexible, individualized training pathways.

Northern Routes

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

Gallery Tuesday January 27th, 2026 Alexandra Poling

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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Save the Date: President’s Lecture Series 2026

Join NOSM University for When Google Enters the Room: Navigating Evidence and Misinformation Together.

In a world of instant search results, how do we support patients, learners, and colleagues in separating signal from noise? Speakers will explore practical ways to evaluate information, make evidence-informed decisions, and address misinformation with empathy.

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.

Learn more about the event and our speakers at nosm.ca.