Discussions at NOSM Board Meeting focus on admissions, physician recruitment and NOSM expansion key areas of discussion

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) Board of Directors held a virtual meeting on Thursday, May 20, 2021 connecting its members from across Northern Ontario.

Special guests Dr. Owen Prowse, Assistant Dean Admissions, and Miriam Cain, Director Admissions and Recruitment, presented an overview of NOSM’s admissions process and plans that are underway to establish pathways to education as well as ensure that admissions are reflective of Northern Ontario’s diversity.

Dr. Sarah Newbery, Assistant Dean Physician Workforce Strategy and Ray Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, identified gaps in health human resources in Northern Ontario and reviewed recruitment and retention statistics and strategies needed to achieve equitable and sustainable access to quality health care in rural remote communities.

The Directors confirmed the appointment of Dr. David W. Barnett, Provost and VP Academic, Lakehead University, as the Chair of the NOSM Board of Directors as of April 7, 2021. As part of its regular meeting of the Board of Directors, the standing committees reported updates. The Board approved the 2021-2022 balanced budget, the financial report – budget to actual March 31, 2021, and the audited Pension Financial Statements.

Dr. Sarita Verma, Dean, President and CEO reported on the progress made in 2020-2021 on the performance goals which are closely tied to the work underway to achieve the outcomes of The NOSM Challenge 2025 strategic plan. A full copy of the Dean’s report can be accessed on NOSM’s website. Key performance indicators for NOSM’s strategic plan can also be viewed at strategicplan.nosm.ca.

For a complete list of Board members, please visit our website at nosm.ca/board.

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About the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is an award-winning socially accountable medical school renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for health equity, NOSM relies on the commitment and expertise of the peoples and communities of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practise in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote and underserved communities. NOSM’s graduates, faculty, learners and staff are changemakers who lead health-system transformation in Northern Ontario. The School is a recipient of the Charles Boelen International Social Accountability Award from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada and the prestigious ASPIRE award, which recognize international excellence in social accountability and medical education.

For further information, please contact: news@nosm.ca