A transformative $250,000 gift from the RBC Foundation is helping to shape the future of health care in Northern Ontario. Over the next three years, this donation will support an innovative NOSM University program designed to train and retain physicians in rural, remote, Indigenous and Francophone communities. By equipping future rural family doctors with the diverse, adaptable skills needed to thrive in community-based practice, this initiative will strengthen access to compassionate, high-quality care for people across the North.
The funding will support initiatives led by Dr. Sarah Newbery, Associate Dean of Physician Workforce Strategy at NOSM University, whose work targets the region's ongoing physician shortages through focused recruitment, hands-on community-based training, and strategic retention programs.
"This generous donation from RBC Foundation allows us to further develop the Rural Generalist Pathway," says Dr. Newbery. "It directly supports resident trainees in Northern Ontario's rural communities as they acquire the skills needed to become part of a sustainable and thriving physician workforce. We know that community-engaged education is key to retaining physicians where they are most needed, and this funding brings that vision closer to reality."
"RBC Foundation's leadership in supporting this critical work will have a direct and lasting impact on the health of Northern Ontario communities. It underscores the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, communities, and corporate partners," says Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO at NOSM University. "We are grateful for their generous donation."
RBC Foundation has a longstanding commitment to strengthening communities and supporting initiatives that promote access to essential services, including health care.
"Communities across Canada continue to face challenges in health care, including staff shortages and limited access to physicians," says Matt Simeoni, Vice-President, RBC Commercial Financial Services. "NOSM University is helping address these challenges here in Northern Ontario, and this donation will support their important work to train and retain doctors across the region."
This $250,000 donation builds on RBC Foundation's tradition of community investment and aligns with NOSM University's mission to improve access to quality health care in underserved areas. NOSM University learners train in more than 90 communities, including rural, Indigenous and Francophone communities throughout the North. Almost 90% of learners who complete both their MD and residency training at NOSM University stay to practise in Northern Ontario. Notably, 569 physicians to date are practising in the North; 131 are practising in rural communities.
