York University to open a family-medicine medical school in 2028 with $55.8M funding

What this is

• The provincial government is providing $55.8 million to plan and operate York University’s new School of Medicine, which focuses on training family doctors.

Who it affects

• Medical students, prospective family physicians, local hospitals and communities in northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka and nearby areas.

By the numbers (from the release)

• Initial intake when the school opens in 2028: 80 undergraduate seats and 102 postgraduate residency seats.
• Full capacity planned: 240 undergraduate seats and 293 postgraduate residency seats.
• Ontario-wide medical education expansion also adds 340 undergraduate seats and 551 postgraduate residency positions by 2028–29, and is expected to reach 1,292 undergraduate and 1,739 postgraduate seats once mature in 2033.

What the funding will cover

• Planning and accreditation work, curriculum development, faculty recruitment, a medical library, training costs and operating costs for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Timeline and related items

• York School of Medicine is slated to open in 2028.
• The release notes a prior $9 million provincial investment toward design and planning in 2024 and mentions the Toronto Metropolitan University medical school opened its inaugural cohort last fall.

Why it matters

• The school is intended to increase the number of Ontario-trained family physicians and strengthen primary care access close to home.