Planning

Committed to Addressing Ontario’s Urgent Health Care Needs

York University is an internationally recognized, progressive teaching and research University. With interdisciplinary, evidence-based health programs that rank among the best in the world, York offers a rich foundation for a new School of Medicine designed to address Ontario’s future health care needs.

York’s longstanding commitment to develop a School of Medicine designed to serve our diverse communities has been reflected in successive University Academic Plans and the University’s Strategic Mandate Agreements with the government of Ontario. Since the establishment of York’s Faculty of Health in 2006, which boasts one of Canada’s largest Schools of Nursing, York’s health-related degree programs, research, and continuing education have grown exponentially.

Right the future: A new approach to community-focused medical education

The future of health care in Ontario, Canada, and around the world, will be radically different in the years to come. Modern medical education that incorporates the determinants of population health, digital health solutions, and an integrated community-based approach to health care is essential to maintaining a high quality health care system responsive to the needs of our diverse population. 

York’s new School of Medicine will improve health equity in the Greater Toronto Area and in underserved communities across Canada, including the more than one million Ontarians who do not have access to a family doctor.

Thanks to its vast health programs and research expertise,  international reputation for community partnerships and social responsibility, York is ideally positioned to right the future of health care.

3%

Rising approx. annual health care costs

47%

Spend of the total provincial budget on health care system

10%

Without family doctor

43%

Shortfall in primary health care physicians

1M

Ontarians experience mental health and addiction annually

69%

Oversupplied medical specialties

Working with our Partners

York is working closely with community, government and health sector partners to bring the new School of Medicine to the Greater Toronto Area. The University is currently gathering input on a conceptual proposal for the new School of Medicine from our internal community as well as externally including the Province. Next steps will involve the development of a comprehensive business proposal as well as York’s formal collegial governance processes to establish the School and Medical Doctor degree program.

Timeline

• February, 2023. York University is invited to join Western York Region Ontario Health Team ( WYR OHT). The WYR OHT is focused on providing better health care in King, Vaughan and Richmond Hill by coordinating services with community partners.

• January, 2023. The York University School of Medicine Strategic Advisory Committee (STAC) holds their inaugural meeting. The committee consists of external and internal health care, education and administration experts.

• January 19, 2023 Discussion with the Council of Research Directors. Provost and VP Academic Lisa Philipps meets with representatives from the Council of Research Directors to discuss opportunities with the School of Medicine and the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• October 19, 2022 Discussion with the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design Council. Provost and VP Academic Lisa Philipps meets with representatives from the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design to discuss opportunities at the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• October 4, 2022 Discussion with Biology Department. Provost and VP Academic Lisa Philipps meets with representatives from the Department of Biology to discuss opportunities at the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• September 14, 2022 Discussion with community organizations. York University hosts a discussion with representatives from community health care settings to offer a discussion forum for those who could not attend the town hall on March 25, 2022. The conversation includes representation from the Alzheimer Society York Region, the Métis Nation of Ontario, and Carea Community Health. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• August 16, 2022 Meeting with the School of Social Work. Provost and VP Academic Lisa Philipps meets with representatives from the School of Social work to discuss opportunities at the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• June 3, 2022 Virtual consultation with the Lassonde School of Engineering Faculty Council. Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps holds a consultation with members of the Lassonde School of Engineering Faculty Council. She responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the proposed School of Medicine. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• June 3, 2022 Virtual consultation with the Department of Psychology (Glendon Campus). Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps holds a consultation with members of the Department of Psychology. She responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• May 30, 2022 Virtual consultation with the Department of Psychology (Keele Campus). Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps holds a consultation with members of the Department of Psychology. She responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• May 24, 2022 Virtual consultation with the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps holds a consultation with members of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. She responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• May 18, 2022 Virtual consultation with the School of Global Health. Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps holds a consultation with members of the Department of School of Global Health. She responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• May 16, 2022 Virtual consultation with the School of Kinesiology & Health. Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps holds a consultation with members of the School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences. She responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• May 10, 2022 Virtual Faculty of Science Council consultation. Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps attends a virtual Faculty of Science Council where she respond to questions and members discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the School of Medicine Conceptual Proposal. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• April 29, 2022 Virtual consultation with the Glendon Faculty Council. Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps holds a consultation with members of Glendon’s Faculty Council. She responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• April 22, 2022 Virtual consultation with the Schulich School of Business Faculty Council. Vice President, Research & Innovation Amir Asif holds a consultation with members of Faculty Council for the Schulich School of Business. He responds to questions and attendees discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• April 19, 2022 Virtual community town hall. Residents and community members from across the region, including Muskoka, North Toronto, Simcoe and York, are invited to learn more about the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the School of Medicine Conceptual Proposal, and to contribute their ideas to the further development of these initiatives. Watch the town hall here. Read the summary notes here. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• April 6, 2022 Virtual School of Nursing consultation. President Rhonda Lenton, Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps hold a consultation with members of the School of Nursing where they respond to questions and discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• April 6, 2022 Virtual Faculty of Health Council consultation. Provost & VP Academic Lisa Philipps and Vice-President Amir Asif attend a virtual Faculty of Health Council where they respond to questions and discuss opportunities presented by Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the School of Medicine Conceptual Proposal. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• March 25, 2022 Virtual community health organizations town hall. Community Health organizations from across the region are invited to learn more about the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the School of Medicine Conceptual Proposal, and to contribute their ideas to the further development of these initiatives.

• March 14, 2022 Virtual community consultation. All York University community members (students, staff, faculty, volunteers) are invited to attend a virtual community consultation, to learn more about the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the School of Medicine Conceptual Proposal, and to contribute their ideas to the further development of these initiatives. York faculty & staff can learn more here.

• February 15, 2022 Land use discussions begin. On February 15, 2022, Vaughan City Council announces it has authorized the City to enter discussions with York University for the use of land to establish a physical presence within the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, including a potential School of Medicine.

• February 4, 2022 Conceptual proposal submitted to provincial government. Preliminary consultations formed the basis for the conceptual proposal which York University submitted to the province on February 4, 2022. This proposal is the foundational document for subsequent broad internal and external consultations. Read the full proposal here.

• Spring 2021 to January 2022 Consultation with health care experts. During early consultations a broad swath of health care experts were canvassed, including community health leaders, hospital partners, medical doctors, other clinical health professionals, academic health experts both internal and external to York, experienced health system administrators, current and former medical school deans and municipal service providers. 

• 2021 Conceptual design phase. The University worked with external design experts to establish the concepts and programmatic principles for a new kind of School of Medicine.

• York University notifies provincial government. York University notified the province of its intention to submit a conceptual proposal for a School of Medicine in the coming months.

• 2021 Steering Committee established. President Lenton established a York University School of Medicine Steering Committee. The committee was tasked with providing strategic leadership for the development of a full rationale, conceptual model, and business case. Committee membership. View the Steering Committee

• Spring 2021 Planning moves into high gear. In spring 2021 President Lenton announced that planning for a School of Medicine was accelerating with the support of government and health care partners. Read here.

• October 2021 Vaughan City Council endorses feasibility study for Vaughan Healthcare Precinct. In October 2021, Vaughan City Council endorsed the findings of the feasibility study to establish the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. Council authorized the City to enter a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with each of the partners to further explore the opportunity.

• 2019 to 2021 University conducts internal consultation process. From 2019 to 2021, York University’s Provost & Vice-President Academic, Vice-President Research & Innovation, and the Dean of Health conducted consultations across multiple disciplines and Faculties on the potential opportunities for collaborative research, innovation, teaching, community engagement, and the development of health professionals at the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct.

• 2019 York enters into MOU with City of Vaughan, Mackenzie Health and VentureLab. In 2019 York University entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Vaughan, Mackenzie Health, and VentureLab to undertake a feasibility study for the creation of a healthcare precinct on lands adjacent to the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.