New medical school at York University to open in 2028

A new medical school focused on family medicine at York University will open its doors in 2028, the province said Wednesday.

Based at the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, the school will devote 70 per cent of its postgraduate seats to students who intend to become primary care physicians.

Once operating at full capacity, the medical school will have 240 undergraduate spotsand 293 postgraduate seats, according to the province.

York University President Rhonda Lenton said at a morning news conferencethe university has been planning the medical school for the past decade.

The provincial government's 2024 budget, released last week, included an initial $9 million for thedesign work on the new facility.

The Ontario College of Family Physicians say 2.3 million Ontarians do not have a family doctor, with that number expected to double in two years.

In 2023, the province announced Toronto Metropolitan University would establisha new medical school in Brampton set to open next year. Once operational that school is set to add 260 undergraduate and 449 postgraduate seats over the next five years,according tothe province.

The province also recently said it plans to connect 600,000 people to primary care teams.

Those teams are composed of health professionals who work together, including doctors, nurse practitioners, registered and practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and dietitians.