North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN Collaborates with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean, Northern Ontario School of Medicine and Bernie Blais, CEO, North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) are pleased to announce today the signing of a collaborative partnership agreement between the two organizations.

“The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is pleased to be partnering with the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN,” noted Dr. Strasser. “This collaborative partnership will enhance our community outreach and supports the priorities of NOSM’s 2010-2015 Strategic Plan, which includes the vision of Innovative Education and Research for a Healthier North.”

Stronger post-secondary education, greater access to medical services at the community level, and a sustainable health system for the residents of North Simcoe Muskoka are key strategic goals of this collaboration.

“Health human resources is and will continue to be, a major challenge for our LHIN. Working with NOSM, we anticipate opportunities to encourage our local populations to consider health services careers and the opportunities that NOSM can provide. We foresee a successful partnership and one that will benefit the residents of North Simcoe Muskoka,” commented Bernie Blais.

Collaboration may include research on the use of best practices for health services delivery, health human resources planning, ensuring the health needs of Aboriginal, Francophone and rural populations are met, education and professional development for health service providers and communities, and the opportunity to share skills and expertise to ensure both organizations meet their respective mandates.

A Joint NSM LHIN-NOSM Relations Committee will be established to regularly monitor and coordinate the initiative.

QUICK FACTS

• North Simcoe Muskoka is one of 14 provincial LHINs that plan, integrate and fund local health services.
• Half of the $46 billion health-care budget is overseen by the LHINs.
• The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is a joint initiative of Lakehead University and Laurentian University.
• When founded in 2005, NOSM became the first new medical school in Canada in over 30 years and the first to be hosted by two universities.

LEARN MORE
To learn more about the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN or the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, please visit the websites at www.nsmlhin.on.ca and www.nosm.ca.