York University's proposed vision for the School of Medicine receives 95 per cent approval from Faculty of Health.
York University's proposal to establish a School of Medicine within the Faculty of Health reached a significant milestone as its Faculty Council members voted 95 per cent in favour of approving the initiative. The proposal moves to Senate on Jan. 23 for consideration of Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee's (APPRC) recommendation for approval in principle to establish the school within the Faculty of Health.
"Faculty Council's vote reflects the fundamental importance of this proposal for the future of health-care education," says Chris Ardern, interim dean of the Faculty of Health. "As we move forward, we are committed to developing a school of medicine that addresses pressing community health needs while building on established strengths in health education and research in the Faculty of Health and across York University."
York's long-standing commitment to establish a School of Medicine was accelerated last spring when the provincial government announced $9 million in start-up funding for a new medical school. Since then the University has intensified its consultation, planning and accreditation processes.
The vote follows extensive planning and consultations that have been taking place since 2021, in alignment with York's collegial governance processes. Most recently, between October and December 2024, the School of Medicine Planning Group consulted with each Faculty and with York University Libraries, gathering valuable input that has informed the proposal.
"Our consultations have helped shape a proposal that considers diverse perspectives," notes Christopher Perry, co-chair of the School of Medicine Planning Group. "These discussions have highlighted potential areas for collaboration while addressing important questions about resources and implementation."
"The extent of engagement with faculty members across the University reflects how significant this initiative is for the whole of York," adds Claire Mallette, director of the School of Nursing. "These discussions have been really helpful to ensure interdisciplinary perspectives into the proposal."
A new FAQ for faculty and staff has been added to the School of Medicine website and provides background on the school, the planning process, the funding model as well as numerous other questions that the planning committee has heard from community members throughout the consultation process.
The proposed School of Medicine aims to complement York's existing health programs while developing new approaches to medical education that emphasize community-focused health-care training, promote cross-disciplinary research and address health-care inequities.
As the proposal moves to Senate for consideration, community members are encouraged to review the documentation and participate in ongoing discussions through Faculty Council meetings, town halls and other University fora.
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
