On December 14, leaders from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Peel District School Board (PDSB) gathered to announce the Future of Healthcare program, an admissions pathway program that encourages students to consider post-secondary academic pursuits and careers in healthcare and related fields. Commitment to the program was confirmed by a Letter of Intent (LOI) outlining key program principles and components, the first of which is set to launch in September 2024.
From left to right: Kiaras Gharabaghi, Teresa Chan, Rashmi Swarup, David Green
The Future of Healthcare program will have representation from two of TMU's Faculties, as well as TMU Student Affairs:
- TMU's School of Medicine, which is set to open in Brampton in 2025 to address growing gaps in primary care and provide community-driven and intentionally inclusive care with doctors that are trained in cultural awareness.
- TMU's Faculty of Community Services, which is home to the university's health-focused programs such as the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing and Midwifery Education Program.
Admissions pathway programs provide numerous benefits to those involved. They introduce new career pathways to secondary school students considering their post-secondary future. Pathway programs also provide personal and professional development for program supporters through mentorship and coaching. The Future of Healthcare program intends to strengthen and increase the volume of applications from diverse backgrounds and equity-deserving communities to programs including those in science, community services and medicine.
With the signing of the Letter of Intent complete, the next steps for the Future of Healthcare pathway program include:
- Collaborating with students and communities to co-design key elements of the program
- Delivering a speaker series, through which students in PDSB schools will have the opportunity to hear from engaging speakers about their lived experience in pursuing diverse career pathways in healthcare (with planned implementation in September 2024)
- Co-developing a secondary school course offering, through which a cohort of students will engage in focused immersive learning on careers in healthcare (with planned implementation in September 2025)
QUOTES:
"The Future of Healthcare pathway program will help students broaden their career possibilities by opening their eyes and minds to healthcare-related fields of study. Through this meaningful partnership between Toronto Metropolitan University and the Peel District School Board, we hope to achieve better representation of equity-deserving groups in healthcare, where they have been historically underrepresented."
- Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, TMU
"Peel District School Board is on an intentional path to building a responsive education model. This first-of-its-kind collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University and Peel District School Board will provide specialized programming and exposure to various healthcare fields for PDSB students. The Future of Healthcare pathway program offers us the ability to inspire the future workforce of healthcare professionals in a way that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves."
- Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education, PDSB
- For more information: TMU School of Medicine
- For more information: TMU Faculty of Community Services
- For more information: Peel District School Board
