Medical schools in Canada

Medical schools in Canada
Name	Medical schools in Canada
Established	1824–present
Type	Public and private
Country	Canada

Medical schools in Canada are the institutions that train physicians and physician–scientists through undergraduate and postgraduate programs across the provinces and territories. They include long-established faculties such as McGill University and University of Toronto alongside newer schools at institutions like McMaster University and Northern Ontario School of Medicine. These schools operate within provincial health systems such as Ontario Ministry of Health, partner with major teaching hospitals including Toronto General Hospital and Montreal General Hospital, and contribute to research at institutes such as Canada Research Chairs and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

History

The earliest medical instruction in what is now Canada began with apprenticeship models and private colleges in the 19th century, leading to chartered faculties at McGill University (1829) and the University of Toronto (1843). The expansion of medical education was shaped by events and movements including the Flexner Report in the United States, influences from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada's precursors, and wartime needs during the First World War and Second World War. Postwar growth saw provincial investments by entities like the Ontario Ministry of Health and the establishment of newer schools at institutions including Dalhousie University, Queen's University, and University of British Columbia. Regional initiatives such as the creation of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine responded to rural physician shortages highlighted by studies from the Royal Commission on Health Services (Canada) and provincial commissions. Recent decades have seen reforms motivated by reports from bodies such as the Allison Report (Ontario) and policy papers from Health Canada.

Organization and accreditation

Canadian medical schools are faculties or colleges within universities (for example, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine). Accreditation is overseen by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) in partnership with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, and postgraduate certification is governed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Institutional governance typically involves university senates such as at University of Ottawa and boards of governors similar to University of Manitoba structures. Funding and oversight interact with provincial ministries like the Alberta Health Services and agencies including the Canadian Medical Association and national workforce planning groups such as the Canadian Resident Matching Service.

undergraduate medical education

Undergraduate medical education leading to the MD or MDCM degree is delivered in four-year curricula at schools like McMaster University and University of Calgary. Programs combine preclinical science taught at faculties such as Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University with clinical rotations at teaching hospitals such as Vancouver General Hospital and Hamilton General Hospital. Curricular innovations have included problem-based learning from McMaster University and distributed education models exemplified by University of British Columbia and Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Schools align assessment practices with national standards from the Medical Council of Canada and use licensing examinations such as the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination.

postgraduate training and residency

Postgraduate residency training is administered through provincial residency match systems coordinated by the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) and culminates in certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for specialties or the College of Family Physicians of Canada for family medicine. Major teaching hospitals—Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto), Montreal Children's Hospital—host residency programs in disciplines recognized by the Royal College, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Fellowship training often occurs at research-intensive centres such as The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and collaborates with national organizations like Canadian Institutes of Health Research for funded projects and scholarly activities.

Admissions and admissions requirements

Admission processes vary by university; common elements include undergraduate prerequisites in institutions such as University of Waterloo and standardized testing like the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) used by many schools including McGill University and University of Toronto. Selection methods incorporate tools such as multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) pioneered at McMaster University, situational judgment tests, and assessments of extracurriculars tied to organizations like the Canadian Federation of Medical Students. Provincial residency status and agreements with bodies such as Health PEI or Saskatchewan Health Authority can influence seat allocation and preferential policies for in-province applicants.

Distribution and list of medical schools by province

Canada's medical schools are distributed across provinces with concentrations in urban centres. Notable examples include: - Ontario: University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Queen's University School of Medicine, Western University Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine (joint with Lakehead University) - Quebec: McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine - British Columbia: University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine - Alberta: University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary - Manitoba: Max Rady College of Medicine - Saskatchewan: University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine - Nova Scotia/New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island: Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine (serving Atlantic Canada) Several institutions also operate satellite campuses and distributed networks in partnership with regional health authorities such as Nova Scotia Health Authority and Eastern Health (Newfoundland and Labrador).

Research, funding, and affiliations

Medical schools conduct biomedical and clinical research in collaboration with hospitals like Toronto Western Hospital and institutes such as Sunnybrook Research Institute. Major funding sources include federal agencies like the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, provincial research bodies such as Alberta Innovates, and philanthropic foundations including Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and university-linked endowments like those at University of Toronto. Academic appointments and cross-appointments are common with research institutes such as The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute and networks like the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, supporting translational research and clinical trials governed by ethics boards such as those at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto). International collaborations involve partners such as World Health Organization and research programs tied to awards like the Gairdner Foundation International Award.

Category:Medical schools in Canada