FROM CLASSROOM TO CLINIC
Peel District School Board and Toronto Metropolitan University Launch Transformative Health Equity Course for Secondary Students

Peel District School Board (PDSB), in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Faculty of Community Services and School of Medicine, is thrilled to launch its first course, Equity in the Future of Healthcare, the final component of The Future of Healthcare Program. This first-of-its-kind initiative gives 25 PDSB secondary students a university-level learning experience focused on building a more just and equitable healthcare system.

This pioneering program is more than a course; it's a model for reimagining how secondary and post-secondary institutions can work together to address systemic barriers in education and healthcare. By connecting students from equity-deserving communities to university faculty, mentors, and real-world learning environments, the initiative fosters not only academic growth but also a deep sense of belonging and purpose. It reflects a shared commitment between PDSB and TMU to build equitable pathways to education and ensure the healthcare workforce of tomorrow reflects the diversity and lived experiences of the communities it serves. 

A Transformative Educational Opportunity  

The 13-week course, which begins on September 17, 2025, will serve as students' weekly co-op placement. Participating students from Bramalea S.S., Chinguacousy S.S., Jean Augustine S.S., Fletcher's Meadow S.S., and Mississauga S.S. will meet once a week and receive additional support through a dedicated TMU student mentorship program, held at their home schools.  

Taught by TMU faculty instructors, this immersive course centers on understanding health equity and inequity through case studies, personal reflections, and academic frameworks that examine power, privilege, and the social determinants of health. It explores how issues of access, delivery, and representation shape equity and justice in Canada's healthcare system. Students will explore real-world healthcare fields nursing, medicine, midwifery, nutrition, public health, and social work through guest lectures, hands-on activities, and visits to TMU labs and classrooms.  

Upon successful completion of the course, students will earn a credit from TMU's Chang School of Continuing Education. This credit can be applied toward a university degree if they choose to pursue post-secondary studies at TMU. 

By providing students with early exposure to university learning, mentorship, and real-world collaboration, the program supports student well-being and helps prepare the next generation of health sector leaders.  

Quotes 

"This course is a significant milestone, not only in students' personal academic journey but also as part of our broader commitment to equity, access, and excellence in education. Parents have already shared how proud they are seeing their children step into spaces they once thought were out of reach. This partnership is changing that. Peel students are seeing themselves in roles they never imagined, and that changes everything."

- Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education, Peel District School Board 

"This program is not just about preparing students for careers in healthcare it's about helping them see themselves as change-makers and equity leaders in their communities. We are excited to build pathways to post-secondary success while empowering students to imagine and shape a more equitable future."

- Mirjan Krstovic, Resource Teacher, Peel District School Board 

"We see health-care professionals as the frontline of public health advocacy. In this respect, representation in the medical field is critical and has been shown to improve patient care and outcomes, and reduce health disparities. Ultimately, we are supporting student career aspirations that will benefit society as a whole."

- Lisa Barnoff, Interim Vice-Dean, Community, Culture and Belonging at the TMU School of Medicine 

"The Faculty of Community Services (FCS) at TMU is excited to welcome students from the PDSB to our campus. Our commitments to community, health and equity are at the heart of this course. Health care and equitable health-care access are among the most pressing issues of our times. Supporting students who will be the health care providers and leaders of the future will extend our ongoing commitments to social justice and collective well-being."

- Nadya Burton, Associate Dean Undergraduate Studies, Students and Pedagogy in the Faculty of Community Services at TMU