Since 2011, more than 160 family physicians educated by the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) have begun to practice in Northern Ontario. This means that approximately 190,000 Northern Ontarians have improved access to a family doctor thanks to NOSM’s presence. This data, among other information about NOSM’s impact on the region, was published in the School’s recent Report to Northern Ontario 2017.

“We started tracking this data as of 2011 because it took at least that long before our first class of students were able to practice independently,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “It takes four years to complete the MD program, and then graduates must enter residency in a medical specialty. Residency can take two to eight years. This means that NOSM-educated health professionals who entered medical school in NOSM’s charter class in 2005 began to open up practices in 2011.”

NOSM’s Report to Northern Ontario was created to report back to the communities of the North about the School’s progress in addressing the priority health concerns of the region. In addition to training physicians, NOSM has:

• Graduated 123 Registered Dietitians, approximately 90 of whom are now working in rural, Northern, or remote communities.
• Collaborated with more than 90 communities in Northern Ontario to provide education across the region.
• Focused its research initiatives on answering health questions relevant to the people and communities of Northern Ontario.
• Contributed more than $100 million of new economic activity in Northern Ontario.

Ninety-four percent of NOSM graduates who have completed both their MD and residency programs at NOSM are now practising in Northern Ontario. “We are very excited that NOSM’s model is proving successful in improving access to healthcare for the people and communities of Northern Ontario,” says Strasser. “But there is still much work to be done. Northern Ontario communities continue to face a broad range of health challenges, with some communities continuing to struggle with maintaining medical services. We are eager to continue our work together to advance the health of the people of Northern Ontario.”

All Northern Ontarians are encouraged to read NOSM’s Report to Northern Ontario. This report will also be available in clinics and waiting rooms across Northern Ontario. Hard copies can be requested by contacting NOSM’s Communications Unit at communications@nosm.ca or 807-766-7452. In addition, any interested parties are welcome to contact to the School to inquire about how they can get involved in supporting NOSM and its partners in improving the health of Northern Ontario.

Every Piece is Essential

Using a combination of web- and teleconference connectivity across Northern Ontario, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held its Annual Members and Board of Directors meetings on Wednesday, September 20, 2017.

In accordance with Board policy, Ken Boshcoff, Pierre Dumais, Gary Boissoneau, and Derek Handley were reappointed as Directors. Dr. Moira McPherson and Dr. Pierre Zundel, Board Chair and Vice Chair respectively, will extend their roles until January 2018 as Zundel settles into his new role as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor at Laurentian University.

The audited financial statements for the year ending April 30, 2017 were approved as presented, and the Board approved the auditors for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2018. Bruce Sutton, Chair of the Board’s Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee, recognized the excellent work being done by NOSM’s Finance Unit, led by Ray Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, and Joe Lipinski, Director of Finance.

Board members received updates on the many successes celebrated at NOSM over the past year, including the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program’s 10^th graduating class of Registered Dietitians. Board members and invited guests received copies of three new NOSM publications: Northern Passages, Report to Northern Ontario, and Achievement Report 2017.

At the meeting, McPherson congratulated Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM’s Dean, on behalf of the Board’s Executive Committee, on achieving his performance goals of 2016/2017. “The Executive Committee commends Dean Strasser for his accomplishments over the past year. There are a wide range of activities happening across the School, which speaks to NOSM’s commitment to socially accountable education and research across the North,” she said. “The continued success of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine as a whole is also a result of the dedication of the School’s teams of staff and faculty members.”

Prior to the official Board meeting, all members were invited to attend a NOSM Check Up—a quarterly meeting which provides a broad range of information to NOSM’s staff and full-time faculty. The NOSM Check Up, with the theme Every Piece is Essential, provided an opportunity for Board members to hear updates from the Healthy Workplace Group, Administration, Advancement, Francophone Affairs, and Dr. Alex Anawati, NOSM alumnus and Board member.

The next Board of Directors meeting will be a two-day session held in Thunder Bay on November 30 and December 1, 2017.

For a complete list of Board members, please visit our website at nosm.ca/board.