By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Friday, April 07, 2006

NEWS RELEASES

OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

NORTHERN ONTARIO
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

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Improving access to doctors in the North

McGuinty Government provides $5 million to match medical school fundraising

SUDBURY, ON, April 7 - The McGuinty government is improving access to doctors for families in the North by providing $5 million to match money raised by the Northern Ontario School of Medicine Bursary Fund, Premier Dalton
McGuinty announced today.

"We know that if young people from the North study in the North, there's a good chance they'll become doctors in the North," said Premier McGuinty. "I want to thank everyone - university administrators, volunteers and donors - who worked so hard to build this bursary fund that will help us deliver quality health care closer to home."

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine Bursary Fund will help students from northern, rural and remote communities with the cost of medical school, and help them avoid significant debt at the end of their training.

The McGuinty government, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, is matching eligible donations to the bursary fund.

"We're investing in young, motivated doctors with roots in Aboriginal, rural and remote communities, who will be graduating from this school," said Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Chair of the Northern
Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. "They will be working in communities throughout Northern Ontario and improving access to health care for all northerners."

The government has committed $95.3 million over three years towards the Northern Ontario School of Medicine - the first new medical school to open in Canada in almost 40 years.

It focuses on the unique needs and characteristics
of rural and northern Ontario and has campuses at both Laurentian University in Sudbury and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

"I am extremely grateful that NOSM students will benefit so significantly from the outstanding contribution of so many volunteers. In this regard, the tireless efforts of Elizabeth Dougall, Chair of the Fundraising Committee for
the NOSM Board of Directors, and the Campaign Co-Chairs Gerry Loughheed Jr. and Greg Pilot, must be recognized," said Dr. Roger Strasser, Founding Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

The Premier also announced that, as a result of the recent Budget, Science North will receive a one-time investment of $1 million to maintain its high-quality programming and worldwide recognition.

"This bursary campaign has been a success, but our work together is not over - we'll keep working with northerners to strengthen the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and improve access to care," said Premier McGuinty. "It's
part of our plan to build prosperity for working families by investing in the health of our people."

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Canada's newest medical school interviews prospective students for coming year

The East Campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), located at Laurentian University in Sudbury, was a very busy place [last] Saturday and Sunday.

Close to 200 prospective medical school students from all across the North were on campus to undergo in-depth interviews as part of their application to the MD program.

NOSM received a total of 2,050 applications from Northern Ontario and across the country for 56 coveted student seats.

Of that number, 400 were selected for interviews.

Two hundred candidates were assessed in Thunder Bay in mid-March, and the other two hundred were interviewed in Sudbury April 1 and 2.

"We are looking for highly motivated students from a variety of backgrounds, who are self-directed, and who will thrive in a small group based, distributed learning environment," said Dr. Tom Szabo, Associate Dean of Student Affairs & Admissions, adding, "The aim is to reach those who have a strong interest in practising medicine in urban, rural and remote communities in the North."

Specially trained volunteers conducted the interviews, gave tours, and helped to ensure the whole process ran smoothly.

"Our team came from the community, medical school faculty and staff, and also included medical students," said Darcia Borg, Senior Student Affairs Officer.

Dr. Blair Schoales, Assistant Dean of Admissions, was very pleased with the sessions. "We sincerely thank all the volunteers for giving their time and expertise. They certainly made all the candidates feel welcomed."

NOSM seeks to reflect the demographics of Northern Ontario, and places an emphasis on applicants who have spent five years or more in Canadian rural, remote or northern urban communities, as well as those who are Francophone or Aboriginal.

Sixteen per cent of the 400 interviewees are Francophone, while 5.6 per cent are Aboriginal.

Males account for 39 per cent of the applications, while 245 candidates (61 per cent) are female.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is a pioneering faculty of medicine.

The School is a joint initiative of Laurentian and Lakehead Universities, with main campuses in Sudbury and Thunder Bay, and multiple teaching and research sites across Northern Ontario.

By educating skilled physicians and undertaking health research suited to community needs, the School will become a cornerstone of community health care in Northern Ontario.

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