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NOSM University Welcomes Two New Governors and Announces Incoming Vice-Chair

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NOSM University’s Board of Governors plays a vital role in guiding the University’s mission to advance health equity, education, and research across Northern Ontario. More than a medical university, NOSM University was purpose-built to train physicians and health professionals to meet the region’s unique health needs, while strengthening equitable access to care.

Two new members were recently appointed to NOSM University’s Board of Governors, bringing a wealth of experience and regional representation to its leadership.

Georgina Daniels, appointed through the Lieutenant Governor in Council, officially joined the Board in September 2025. A respected leader in Thunder Bay’s business community, she brings strong financial acumen, governance experience, and a deep commitment to accountability and service.

Diane Quintas will begin her term in January 2026. Based in Thunder Bay, she is a dedicated health-care professional and Francophone community advocate, known for her leadership and commitment to advancing equitable access to health services across Northern Ontario.

At the same meeting, the Board confirmed the appointment of Susan Soldan as Vice-Chair of the Board, who will join John Stenger, incoming Board Chair effective January 2026, in leading NOSM University’s governance team.

“These appointments strengthen the Board of Governors’ capacity to lead with vision and accountability,” said Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice Chancellor, Dean and CEO of NOSM University. “Both new Governors bring a wealth of expertise, advocacy, and deep community connections that align with NOSM University’s mission to improve the health of Northern Ontarians by being socially accountable in our education and research programs and advocating for health equity.”

Together, this leadership team will guide NOSM University as it continues to advance its social accountability mandate and deliver on its promise of transformative education, research excellence, and health system leadership for the North.

Community members are welcome to learn more about NOSM University and join in the 20th anniversary celebrations at an Open House on Friday, November 21 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. in Thunder Bay and Sudbury.

 

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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.

Addressing the Gaps, Homepage News, Media Releases, News

Recruitment event for NOSM University medical learners aligns education with local needs

Physician recruiters from communities across Northern Ontario met with NOSM University medical learners on the evening of Thursday, November 13, 2025, at an event designed to support physician recruitment in the North.  

The Northern Ontario Community Concierge and Connection Event, hosted in Sudbury, featured physician recruiters from more than 30 communities across Northern Ontario—from Hearst to Kenora. The inaugural event responded to community recruiters’ requests for a Northern Ontario–based forum to connect with NOSM University learners, providing space for communities to engage directly with the next generation of physicians. 

“When health workforce planning begins in partnership with local communities, medical education becomes more responsive and relevant to local needs,” says Dr. Sarah Newbery, Associate Dean of Physician Workforce Strategy, Professor, and Family Physician in Marathon. “Through NOSM University’s distributed model, learners already benefit from immersive training in diverse Northern practice environments. This event is a continuation of the University’s commitment to be socially accountable to Northern communities, and it helps align health workforce planning with education.” 

The program included a full day of professional development for community recruiters, with sessions on artificial intelligence in recruitment, effective use of social media, information about NOSM University’s graduates and medical education expansion, and lessons from international models such as the Attract–Connect–Stay framework from Australia.  

Medical students and residents at NOSM University had an opportunity to meet with community representatives and learn what communities across the North offer for future learning and work. “Bringing recruiters and learners together here in the North is essential,” says Mélanie Goulet, Recruitment Coordinator for Hearst. “Our communities face unique challenges, but they also offer incredible opportunities. This event allows us to highlight the rewarding careers and meaningful connections that can be built right here.” 

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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 

Available for interviews: 

  • Mélanie Goulet, Recruitment Coordinator, Hearst 
  • Owen Doerksen, Recruiter, Kenora and Northwestern Ontario 
  • Brett Redden, Recruiter, Marathon 
  • Dr. Sarah Newbery, Associate Dean, Physician Workforce Strategy, NOSM University, Marathon 
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Researchers Mark Two Decades of Tracking NOSM University MD students’ success

When NOSM University opened its doors in 2005, it premiered a new model of distributed, community-engaged medical education in Northern Ontario. Established with an explicit social accountability mandate to improve health equity, NOSM University educates future physicians, dietitians, and health-care professionals for practise in rural, Northern, Francophone, and Indigenous communities.

As part of NOSM University’s social accountability mandate, researchers began tracking students and graduates to understand the long-term impacts of the model by conducting a longitudinal research study that is now internationally renowned. The study, called the Health Education and Workforce Impact study (HEWIS), surveys medical students in the first and fourth years of the MD program to understand their preferences, reasons for attending NOSM University, where they want to practise, and more.

“It’s designed to help us understand not just the decisions that they make in their career, but why they make them,” says Dr. Brian Ross, NOSM University Professor.

In May, Dr. Ross, along with co-collaborators Margaret French, and Drs. Sarah Newbery and Erin Cameron, published findings from 20 years of the study. Their results show that 51.3 per cent of NOSM University graduates have stayed in Northern Ontario to practise, and among graduates who stayed, the majority have chosen family medicine. The percentage of NOSM University MD graduates choosing family medicine is among the highest of all Canadian medical schools and is dramatically higher than the percentage of Canadian medical students who choose family medicine on average.

“In their first year, most students express a desire to become family doctors, and we successfully retain the vast majority,” says Dr. Ross. “However, among those who initially indicate an interest in other specialties, approximately 40 per cent ultimately choose family medicine.

“If Canada has a family medicine problem, we have a solution,” he continues.

Dr. Ross partly attributes these high rates to compulsory rural community placements throughout Northern Ontario. The mandatory third-year Comprehensive Community Clerkship requires medical students to spend approximately eight months living and learning in a Northern Ontario community and undertaking clinical experience anchored in family practices.

The tracking study offers valuable insights into what strategies are effective and how NOSM University is fulfilling its mandate. It also sheds light on the factors influencing whether graduates of NOSM University’s programs remain in Northern communities after training or choose to leave. Dr. Ross says that the data can also be used to attract prospective students and medical residents and strengthen retention across all specialties.

“Much of this evidence demonstrates that our model works. It achieves its goal and is worth the investment due to its success,” adds Dr. Ross.

The research team is also collecting data on medical residents—physicians who have completed their MD degrees and are enrolled in mandatory specialty training, such as family medicine—which is currently being prepared for analysis. Dr. Ross hopes this information will provide further insights into how retention rates can be increased across the North. “The essence of the tracking study is to understand what graduates do and why, enabling us to design programs and processes that will retain more doctors in Northern Ontario where they are needed.”

Learn more: HEWIS at NOSM University

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NOSM University is Canada’s first independent medical university and one of the greatest education and physician workforce strategy success stories of NorthernOntario. More than just a medical university, it was purpose-built to address thehealth needs of the region. While advocating for equitable access to care, theuniversity 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 ondiversity, inclusion, and advocacy, NOSM University is an award-winning, sociallyaccountable organization renowned for its innovative model of distributed,community-engaged education and research.

NOSM University is holding an Open House to celebrate 20 years in the North. Join us on November 21, 2025 from 2-5 p.m. RSVP

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

NOSM University