$123K invested in Physician Assistant training in Northern Ontario 

The Consortium of Physician Assistant Education—a collaboration between the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T) and NOSM University—has received $123,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Health to establish a dedicated Northern Stream for Physician Assistant (PA) training in Northern Ontario.  

Having welcomed its first class in 2010, the Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant (BScPA) program is a full-time undergraduate degree program at the University of Toronto. The program, delivered through this unique partnership, combines academic excellence with clinical experience to train the next generation of health-care providers where they are needed most. 

This new investment will expand access to high-quality medical education while helping to address the critical need for access to health care across Northern Ontario. Over the next two years, the funding will drive the development and launch of this distributed, community-engaged program.  

Work will begin this year to build the framework and regional infrastructure needed to support a Northern-based cohort. By the 2027–28 academic year, the program will be ready to welcome its first class of six students, with plans to grow to a class of 10 students as the program evolves.  

While most students in the program are currently able to complete a small number of placements in the North, the Northern Stream will allow learners to complete most of their rotations across the region. 

A significant portion of the province’s investment will support the recruitment of Regional Liaisons—practising PAs who will play a vital role in building and sustaining the Northern Stream.  

These liaisons will focus on strengthening clinical education by engaging and supporting PAs across Northern Ontario to serve as preceptors, helping ensure high-quality, locally grounded training experiences. They will also lead targeted outreach to prospective students from Northern and rural communities who are more likely to remain in the region and contribute to its health-care workforce after graduation.  

“Expanding training opportunities for physician assistants in Northern Ontario is essential to strengthening a health-care system that truly reflects and serves the unique needs of Northern communities,’” says Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO.  

“Physician assistants continue to be a cornerstone of team-based care. By educating learners in the communities where they are most needed, we are not only expanding access to care—we are helping to build a workforce that is more likely to stay, serve, and advocate for health equity across Northern Ontario.” 

“This partnership will help more Canadians benefit from the excellent care that physician assistants can provide,” says Dr. Jeff Golisky, Director of the Physician Assistant program at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. “This expansion is an investment in the health-care systems of Northern Ontario, and the skill and expertise that physician assistants bring to patients.”  

“Our government is continuing to take bold action to further protect Ontario’s world-class health-care workforce, now and for years to come,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By increasing the number of physician assistants trained in Northern Ontario, we are ensuring more people can connect to the care they need, where and when they need it.” 

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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 University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine  

Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto has evolved into Canada’s leading institution of learning, discovery and knowledge creation. We are proud to be one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, driven to invent and innovate. U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine is the largest and top-ranked faculty of medicine in Canada. Unmatched in size and scope, the Faculty spans the fundamental health sciences, clinical medicine, rehabilitation sciences, translational research and health systems. Our learners have the opportunity to learn from and work with preeminent thought leaders through our multidisciplinary network of teaching and research faculty, alumni and partners.  

For further information, please contact gabrielle.giroday@utoronto.ca. 

A major financial award from the CMA Foundation, the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) Foundation, recognizes medical students at NOSM University who demonstrate exceptional leadership within Indigenous communities. Named the Niigaanegabow Indigenous Leadership Award, the $250,000 grant will support two Indigenous medical students annually for five years and demonstrates CMA Foundation’s ongoing commitment to advancing reconciliation in Indigenous health and wellness. 

Nii-gaa-ne-ga-bow means “one that stands in front” in Anishinaabemowin, and reflects leadership, courage, and the responsibility of those who lead within and for their communities. The award was named by members of the NOSM University Elders and Knowledge Carriers Circle. 

Each year, two Indigenous medical students will receive a scholarship and be supported to develop their own leadership capacity in support of the advancement of Indigenous medical education in Northern Ontario. In addition, the recipients will collaborate with Sioux Lookout-based Indigenous artist Elliott Doxtater-Wynn, who creates a spirit portrait that reflects and celebrates their personal journey in medicine. 

In addition to supporting the Leadership Awards, the CMA Foundation also provided $25,000 to support the participation of members of NOSM University’s Elders and Knowledge Carriers Circle at the 35th Annual Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada’s Mentorship Gathering. This national Gathering brought together approximately 250 Indigenous physicians, residents, support staff, and medical students from across Canada. The 2026 event had the largest group of Elders and Knowledge Carriers to ever attend an IPAC Gathering—made possible in part with funding from the CMA Foundation. 

“At NOSM University, we are deeply grateful to the members of the Elders and Knowledge Carriers Circle who shared their gifts and teachings with us. Their participation in this Gathering is an important expression of our responsibility to better understand and honour their wisdom,” says Dr. Joseph LeBlanc, NOSM University Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion. 

“Indigenous medical students go on to provide culturally safe care throughout their careers. By supporting these students during their journey through medical school, the CMA Foundation is making a meaningful contribution to health equity and helping to strengthen health care in the North,” says Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO of NOSM University. 

“The CMA and CMA Foundation are committed to advancing more equitable health care in allyship with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Through the Niigaanegabow Indigenous Leadership Award, we are honoured to support Indigenous medical students entering the health-care system, whose leadership will help catalyze a transformed system, while also strengthening culturally safe care in their communities,” says Allison Seymour, President, CMA Foundation and Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Partnerships, Canadian Medical Association. 

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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 CMA Foundation and the Canadian Medical Association 

The CMA Foundation is a registered charity, designated as a private foundation, whose sole member is the Canadian Medical Association. CMA Foundation’s purpose is to provide impactful charitable giving to registered Canadian charities and qualified donees to improve health equity and further excellence in health care. 

The Canadian Medical Association leads a national movement with physicians who believe in a better future of health. Our ambition is a sustainable, accessible health system where patients are partners, a culture of medicine that elevates equity, diversity and wellbeing, and supportive communities where everyone has the chance to be healthy. We drive change through advocacy, giving and knowledge sharing—guided by values of collaboration and inclusion.