Donate Now!
Board, Homepage News, Media Releases

NOSM University holds first Board of Governors meeting

Gallery

Transition board affirms mission, vision and values

NOSM University held a transition board of governors meeting on April 5, 2022—its first since becoming an independent university.

The NOSM University Transition Board of Governors was confirmed, comprised of 16 members who reflect the geographic and demographic diversity of Northern Ontario, including Indigenous, Francophone, and rural and remote communities. Mrs. Joy Warkentin is confirmed as Chair of the transition Board of Governors and Mr. Mark Hurst as Vice-Chair. The transition board is in place until April 1, 2023.

Mrs. Warkentin is passionate about leadership and service. She was educated first as a nurse and then as an educator, holding a degree in sociology and a Master of Education in curriculum development. Mrs. Warkentin taught nursing, became Chair of Health Sciences and then Associate Dean Academic at Confederation College. After relocating to London, Ontario, she was the Senior Vice President at Fanshawe College from 2000 to 2009. Mrs. Warkentin has received many awards and accolades for her dedicated contributions.

Mr. Hurst is Past President and CEO North Bay Regional Health Care. Beginning his post-secondary education at Glendon College at York University, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history and a minor in French. Mr. Hurst later earned a post-graduate diploma in hospital administration from the University of Toronto. Mr. Hurst played a significant leadership role in the merger of North Bay Civic Hospital and St. Joseph’s General Hospital in 1995, and became President and CEO of the newly consolidated North Bay General Hospital at that time.

The first order of business as a new Board of Governors was to ratify the NOSM University By-law No. 1 and reaffirm NOSM University’s mission, vision and values which remain as defined in the strategic plan, The NOSM Challenge 2025. The financial statements for January 31, 2022 as presented by the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee were approved.

“This was a meeting that will certainly be marked in our history,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean and CEO of NOSM University. “The energy was electric as we moved through many important items that will kick start this new chapter. Our mission to improve the health of Northern Ontarians by being socially accountable in our education and research programs and advocating for health equity is as important as ever.”

Dr. Verma reported on the progress made in 2021, which is closely tied to the work underway to achieve the outcomes of its strategic plan.

More information about the NOSM University Board of Governors can be found on the NOSM University website.

-30-

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 peoples 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.

 

Facts about NOSM University: 

  • NOSM University has produced 780 MDs, 55 of whom self-identify as Indigenous, and 165 of whom self-identify as Francophone. In addition, 692 residents have completed NOSM programs. More than half of these health practitioners have stayed in Northern Ontario.
  • Now that the legislation is proclaimed in force, NOSM University will form a new Board of Governors and a Senate.
  • NOSM University has partnerships and collaborations with more than 500 organizations, 90+ communities, and more than 1,800 clinical, human and medical sciences faculty dispersed across all of Northern Ontario.
  • NOSM University is the first medical university in Canada with a dedicated Centre for Social Accountability.
  • NOSM University is a signatory to the Okanagan Charter, an international charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges.
Northern Routes

NOSM University’s Momentum— a thrilling series of events!

You might recognize this formula: p=mv, or momentum (p) is equal to mass (m) times velocity (v).

So: a moving thing picks up speed (v) when something is added to it (m), and the more that happens, the stronger that thing’s momentum (p).

Our medical school was already moving forward. And then… On March 4, 2022 the province made NOSM University Canada’s first independent medical university, effective April 1, 2022. Then, just eleven days later, we were told that NOSM University will expand to add 30 medical degree seats and 41 residency spots over the next five years. That’s a big jump: NOSM currently enrolls 64 MD students and 60 first-year residents a year. This is a journey that is once-in-a-lifetime.

Talk about momentum: we’re at that thrilling moment on the rollercoaster when we’ve done the initial climb, and we’ve reached that anxious, knowing pause at the top. A look out onto the horizon, and then whoosh! We dive forward into the loops and bends of what’s next.

Thriving in this changing world requires innovative thinking, and new ways to use knowledge and ideas. In this regard, health care and health research and education have never been more important. We are responding to emerging challenges and taking full advantage of new opportunities. That’s especially true given the nature of what we do and where we live and work. We all know how complex and fragile the health-care system is across Northern Ontario. We all know the consequences of chronic health-care gaps for people. We are trying to transform the system for the North so that we can reach into underserved communities like never before.

We will tackle the seemingly impossible: deliver true and sustainable health equity to the 800,000 people who call this region home. At NOSM University we will provide the tools, knowledge, and insights into the human condition required to ensure the well-being of Canadians and of societies around the world.

With these two announcements, NOSM University, now some-20 years in the making, has renewed momentum—and we’re going to use it.
  • We’re going to define what it means to be an independent medical university in Canada – leading the way in fiscal accountability and transparency.
  • We’re going to advance the national conversation around effective, affordable rural and Northern health care: what it looks like and how to provide it.
  • We’re going to strengthen our existing partnerships and grow new ones, and we’re going to reaffirm and deepen our commitment to the North.
  • We’re going to educate more physicians and other health care providers for the North and help them develop as leaders in their communities. We will expand our education and training programs to meet societal need.
  • We’re going to keep advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion. And we will keep fighting racism, and seek truth and reconciliation.
  • We’re going to make scientific discovery a priority and lead collaborative research in the North and look for new partnerships for cutting-edge opportunities in primary care, educational technology and population health.
  • We’re going to ensure that NOSM University’s next generation of physicians, registered dietitians, physician assistants, medical physicists, and others have access to the finest high quality fully accredited educational programs.
  • We’re going to raise funds to support our learners to provide financial aid through bursaries and scholarships like the Slaight scholarships for BIPOC women.

As NOSM University, Canada’s first independent medical university, we are going to do all that and more.

We’ve got the momentum—enjoy the journey, get on board, and watch us go.

Miigwetch, thank you, marsi, merci,

Dr. Sarita Verma
President, Vice Chancellor, Dean and CEO
NOSM University

If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at dean@nosm.ca and follow me on Twitter @ddsv3.

Subscribe to Northern Routes

Homepage News, Media Releases, News

NOSM University. Rooted in the North.

Friday, April 1, 2022, marks history as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) becomes NOSM University, Canada’s first independent medical university.

NOSM was established in 2002 as a purpose-built solution to tackle the ongoing doctor shortage in Northern Ontario. With more than 780 MD graduates and 692 residents having completed NOSM programs, it is estimated that 300 physicians are still needed in Northern Ontario to meet the immediate demand.

“Health care and health education and research have never been more important,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, President, Vice-Chancellor and Dean of NOSM University. “We all know how complex and fragile the health-care system is across Northern Ontario. NOSM University will transform the system for the North and reach into underserved communities like never before.”

With the Ontario Government’s recent announcement of medical education expansion, NOSM University will increase its medical degree enrolment by 47% and residency positions by 68% over the next five years.

“Becoming an independent medical university and through expansion, we have renewed momentum—and we’re going to use it,” says Dr. Verma, adding that NOSM University will:

  • define what it means to be an independent medical university in Canada leading the way in fiscal accountability and transparency;
  • advance the national conversation around effective, affordable rural and Northern health care: what it looks like and how to provide it;
  • strengthen existing partnerships and grow new ones, while reaffirming and deepening its commitment to the North;
  • educate more physicians and other health-care providers for the North and help them develop as leaders in their communities while expanding education and training programs to meet societal need;
  • continue advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion, fighting racism, and seeking truth and reconciliation;
  • make scientific discovery a priority, lead collaborative research in the North and look for new partnerships for cutting-edge opportunities in primary care, educational technology and population health;
  • ensure that NOSM University’s next generation of physicians, registered dietitians, physician assistants, medical physicists, and others have access to the finest high-quality fully-accredited educational programs; and,
  • raise funds to support our learners by providing financial aid through bursaries and scholarships.

“As NOSM University, we are going to do all that and more,” says Dr. Verma.Since its establishment, NOSM has blazed trails in its short history. The unique, distributed, community-engaged learning model has grown into something extraordinary. This model requires strong ties and engagement with remote, rural, Indigenous and Francophone communities. NOSM University has partnerships and collaborations with more than 500 organizations, in 90+ communities, and more than 1,800 faculty dispersed across all of Northern Ontario.

– 30 –

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 peoples 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.

 

Facts about NOSM University:
  • NOSM has produced 780 MDs, 55 of whom self-identify as Indigenous, and 165 of whom self-identify as Francophone. In addition, 692 residents have completed NOSM programs. More than half of these health practitioners have stayed in Northern Ontario.
  • More than 148 dietetic interns have graduated from the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP) and 78 are practising in Northern Ontario.
  • Through NOSM, more than 850 rehabilitation sciences students have completed occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology and audiology placements in Northern Ontario.
  • The Physician Assistant (PA) program is a University of Toronto degree delivered in collaboration with NOSM and The Michener Institute of Education at UHN. More than 300 PA students have completed rotations in Northern Ontario through NOSM’s partnership in the Consortium of Physician Assistant Education.
  • Four residents have graduated from NOSM’s Medical Physics Residency Education Program (MPREP) and are now practising as medical physicists.
  • Now that the legislation is proclaimed in force, NOSM University will form a new Board of Governors and a Senate.
  • NOSM’s partnerships and collaborations with more than 500 organizations, 90+ communities, and more than 1,800 clinical, human and medical sciences faculty dispersed across all of Northern Ontario will continue.
  • NOSM University is the first medical university in Canada with a dedicated Centre for Social Accountability.
  • NOSM is a signatory to the Okanagan Charter, an international charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges.
  • NOSM will remain in both Thunder Bay and Sudbury, and will build on its collaborative relationships with Lakehead University and Laurentian University.
  • NOSM University will continue to receive 90 per cent of its operating funds directly from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
  • NOSM University joins some of the world’s highest ranked medical schools that are independent medical universities and all fully accredited.

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

NOSM University