Health equity is central to the mission of NOSM University and its partners. Through community-engaged, evidence-informed research, faculty and collaborators are addressing real-world challenges that affect the accessibility, quality, and fairness of health care—particularly in rural, remote, and Northern communities.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has awarded a research group affiliated with NOSM University a Project Grant totaling $803,251, reflecting the strength of collaboration and the impact of research rooted in local realities. Dr. Erin Cameron, Professor and Director of the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre of Health Equity at NOSM University, in partnership with Ottawa’s Bruyère Health Research Institute, received the grant for the project A Place-based Framework for Equitable Health Service Delivery.

The project explores how geographic, health, and social data can improve the equity and effectiveness of the delivery of health services. By drawing on an existing place-based approach and incorporating community voices, the team aims to create a new framework that can guide more equitable service delivery in diverse settings.

This new framework will be refined through a pilot implementation in Thunder Bay, where it will be shaped by local data and lived experience. The goal is to build a model that can be adapted and scaled to improve equity in health-care systems across Canada. The project also highlights the strength of NOSM University’s research partnerships with community organizations, which bring together clinical care and education in ways that directly benefit Northern Ontarians.

Drs. Cameron and Claire Kendall are co-principal investigators on the project, with co-investigators including partners from the City of Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and numerous health providers and educational institutions across Northern Ontario. This project represents the ongoing commitment of NOSM University’s research community to foster collaboration with regional partners to address the unique health-care needs and experiences of Canadians.

“This CIHR-funded project exemplifies how collaboration, innovation, and social accountability can lead to transformative change in health care,” says Dr. David Marsh, Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies. “By working together across institutions, disciplines, and communities, NOSM University and its partners are advancing research excellence and helping to build a more equitable health system for all Northerners.”

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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.

For further information, please contact: news@nosm.ca.

About the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity

Established as the NOSM University Centre for Social Accountability in 2021, the Centre was born of an immutable conviction: that everyone, regardless of circumstance or geography, deserves the dignity of equal access to health-care practitioners who are culturally competent, understand the realities of living in the rural and remote North, and lead with compassion and integrity.

The Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity is the only one of its kind in Canada. It is a visionary, multidisciplinary venture, 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 Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity is already becoming a frontrunner in the improvement of sustainable equity, access, and population health outcomes. Its impact derives from regional focus, yet is unbounded in its scope. The national and international relevance of its work will become recognized as the Centre’s results are dispersed among practitioners, policy makers, and advocates in similarly challenged regions.

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NOSM University announces Dr. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam as Assistant Dean, Research

Thursday October 23rd, 2025 Caroline Cox

NOSM University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam as Assistant Dean, Research, effective October 20, 2025. An Associate Professor, Dr. Tharmalingam has made significant contributions to advancing molecular biology and mentoring learners at NOSM University. In this new role, he will lead initiatives that strengthen the University’s research environment and support innovative discoveries across Northern Ontario.

“I am honoured to take on the role of Assistant Dean, Research at NOSM University,” says Dr. Tharmalingam. “Research plays a vital role in improving health outcomes in Northern Ontario, and I look forward to supporting faculty, learners, and partners as we continue to expand NOSM University’s research impact.”

Dr. David Marsh, Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, extends his congratulations: “Dr. Tharmalingam brings both passion and experience to this role. His commitment to scientific excellence and mentorship will continue to enhance NOSM University’s research partnerships.”

A sincere thank you to Dr. T.C. Tai for his outstanding leadership as Assistant Dean, Research, over the past seven years. His dedication has laid a strong foundation for the continued growth of research at NOSM University. Dr. Tai has transitioned to the role of Division Head for both the Human Sciences and Medical Sciences Divisions at NOSM University.

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RBC Foundation donates $250,000 to NOSM University to strengthen rural and Northern Ontario physician training

Wednesday October 22nd, 2025 Caroline Cox

A transformative $250,000 gift from the RBC Foundation is helping to shape the future of health care in Northern Ontario. Over the next three years, this donation will support an innovative NOSM University program designed to train and retain physicians in rural, remote, Indigenous and Francophone communities. By equipping future rural family doctors with the diverse, adaptable skills needed to thrive in community-based practice, this initiative will strengthen access to compassionate, high-quality care for people across the North.

The funding will support initiatives led by Dr. Sarah Newbery, Associate Dean of Physician Workforce Strategy at NOSM University, whose work targets the region’s ongoing physician shortages through focused recruitment, hands-on community-based training, and strategic retention programs.

“This generous donation from RBC Foundation allows us to further develop the Rural Generalist Pathway,” says Dr. Newbery. “It directly supports resident trainees in Northern Ontario’s rural communities as they acquire the skills needed to become part of a sustainable and thriving physician workforce. We know that community-engaged education is key to retaining physicians where they are most needed, and this funding brings that vision closer to reality.”

“RBC Foundation’s leadership in supporting this critical work will have a direct and lasting impact on the health of Northern Ontario communities. It underscores the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, communities, and corporate partners,” says Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO at NOSM University. “We are grateful for their generous donation.”

RBC Foundation has a longstanding commitment to strengthening communities and supporting initiatives that promote access to essential services, including health care.

“Communities across Canada continue to face challenges in health care, including staff shortages and limited access to physicians,” says Matt Simeoni, Vice-President, RBC Commercial Financial Services. “NOSM University is helping address these challenges here in Northern Ontario, and this donation will support their important work to train and retain doctors across the region.”

This $250,000 donation builds on RBC Foundation’s tradition of community investment and aligns with NOSM University’s mission to improve access to quality health care in underserved areas. NOSM University learners train in more than 90 communities, including rural, Indigenous and Francophone communities throughout the North. Almost 90% of learners who complete both their MD and residency training at NOSM University stay to practise in Northern Ontario. Notably, 569 physicians to date are practising in the North; 131 are practising in rural communities.

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For further information, please contact news@nosm.ca.