Preparations for the development of a new strategic plan are underway. The request for proposals to support in the consulting and planning phase of development was released on January 30, 2025, and we anticipate selecting the successful proposal by March 3, 2025. The draft recommendations from the NOUS Group in the Efficiency and Accountability Review underscore the critical importance of updating our strategic plan and highlight the significant value of investing in this process to drive long-term success and sustainability.

The NOSM University Challenge 2025 update will be presented at the Board of Governors meeting in May. We are gathering the necessary data and metrics to provide a clear overview of progress made to date and insights into priorities and initiatives moving forward.

Expansion

We have revised the membership and Terms of Reference for the Expansion Task Force to allow the group to transition from an advisory to a decision-making role. The first meeting of this group occurred on February 10, 2025.

The expansion of both undergraduate (UME) and postgraduate (PGME) medical education continues to advance, with key developments in several areas. The Educational Impact Review emphasized the importance of reporting any UME curriculum changes to the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) to mitigate risks to accreditation amid rapid growth. External funding opportunities to support rural community clerkship teaching environments communities are being explored, and several Royal College program submissions, including Emergency Medicine, Medical Oncology, Cardiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology have been received. Radiology has a ready-to-submit application, and several collaborative discussions are ongoing for the creation of collaborative programs such as Pathology, Ophthalmology, and Plastic Surgery (University of Manitoba). 

For the Family Medicine expansion, the Provincial government announced a funding commitment on January 27, 2025, for Primary Care Teaching Clinics (PCTC). The amount to be received by NOSM University remains unclear, yet site planning is progressing for locations such as Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Rural South. Additional planning and resources will be required to ensure successful development while prioritizing curriculum changes and faculty development at the University level. Key financial and operational models for these new primary care teaching clinics are being developed, with ongoing advocacy efforts to secure government support. The focus remains on ensuring sustainable growth, faculty development, and meeting resource requirements across these expanding programs.

Budget

There will be a full report on the budget from the FARM committee. In summary, we expect to close this fiscal year in a position close to balanced, due to one-time funding received within this fiscal. However, structural deficits persist in the longer term and continue to require attention.  Advocacy in the upcoming year will be focused on addressing these longstanding financial concerns.

The Ministry Audit is ongoing and the team is continuing to work through the remaining steps of the process. A preliminary report is expected soon, with the target completion date set for March 31, 2025.

The Preliminary Efficiency and Accountability review by NOUS group has been successfully submitted on January 31, 2025, to meet the deadline. Work on the review is ongoing, with the final report expected to be submitted March 31, 2025. The next phase of work will focus on refining the five-year financial forecasts and developing an implementation plan to support the recommendations outlined in the report.

Leadership

We have updated the leadership structure with renewed terms of reference and membership for the Executive Group (formerly Cabinet) and reworked the former Executive Group as the Senior Leadership Group.  This will support decision making and transparency and the changes have been well received among faculty and staff.  A proposal for the revision of leadership structures in Faculty Affairs to create clear and distinct lines of reporting and accountability for clinical and non-clinical faculty has been prepared and is currently out for consultation. 

Ray Hunt has been appointed as Advisor, Northern and Rural Strategies to the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Primary Care Action Team (PCAT), effective January 13, 2025. Ray is continuing to serve as Vice-President, Administration and Chief Operating Officer at NOSM University in addition to this role. To ensure all institutional priorities are met, Ray has divided his time between both roles and is working closely with his team to ensure responsibilities are distributed effectively.

Dr. David Marsh, Vice President, Research and Graduate Studies, has been extended in his term until December 31, 2026. This extension ensures leadership continuity as NOSM University completes the final steps toward achieving independent grant administration for Tri-Council funding. Over the past five years, Dr. Marsh has led our research portfolio with dedication, guiding us through our transition to a university and strengthening our core facilities alongside his team. The extended term will also allow NOSM University to prepare for and launch a comprehensive search for a long-term Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, which is planned for late 2025.

Dr. Rob Anderson has been reappointed as the Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) for a second five-year term, effective January 1, 2025. During his first term as Associate Dean, PGME, Dr. Anderson provided strong leadership toward innovating health education through his work on accreditation processes and NOSM University’s historic residency program expansion—all while navigating the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the complexities of NOSM University becoming an independent university.

Government Relations

I have been meeting with political leaders across Northern Ontario to advocate for the continued growth and sustainability of NOSM University. Engagement with provincial MPPs has been paused due to the provincial election but will resume after February 27, 2025, as soon as the new Government is sworn in. Our focus remains on securing updated funding formulas to address the structural deficit, which has been driven mostly by unfunded cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). Additionally, we are seeking funding to support initiatives like Primary Care Teaching Clinics (PCTC) that will add capacity to teaching sites to support expansion. NOSM University faces significant financial pressures due to an outdated funding model, frozen since 2004, and constraints such as tuition freezes, enrollment caps, and the increased costs of operating in remote communities.

Permanent infrastructure support is also critical, as the reliance on leased campuses limits long-term planning and growth. Strategic government investment in capital infrastructure, along with an updated funding approach, is essential for NOSM University’s ability to continue fulfilling its mission of addressing health-care disparities and supporting the long-term needs of Northern Ontario communities

Download past issues of the President’s Report.

Download past issues of the NOSM University Research Annual Report.