NOSM and the University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine announce collaboration agreement
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba (U of M) have signed a collaboration agreement which will allow the two parties to collaborate on developing medical education programs that are socially accountable and responsive to patients in underserved, rural areas in both Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.“We are delighted to partner with NOSM to address the health-care needs of our neighbours in Northwestern Ontario,” says Dr. Brian Postl, Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. “The Max Rady College of Medicine prepares learners to provide broad clinical services to patients in underserved, rural areas. This partnership is indicative of how medical schools can collaborate to improve patient care and together face today’s pressing human resource needs.”
Through the collaboration, the two Schools hope to improve access to high-quality health care for patients across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, provide high-quality medical education and experience for learners in these communities, and collaborate on activities and programs that are relevant to the learners, patients and communities both Schools serve.
“The Northern Ontario School of Medicine was established with an explicit social accountability mandate; as such, we strive to cultivate relationships with organizations to facilitate common goals,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “This collaboration agreement between the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine will allow us to pursue education and research initiatives to maximize the positive impact our organizations are having on the populations we serve.
One example of the initiatives which the partners hope to achieve through the collaboration agreement is the inclusion of a resident in Family Practice Anesthesia program at the Max Rady College of Medicine who would establish a comprehensive Family Medicine Practice, including Family Practice Anesthesia, in Northwestern Ontario upon completion of their training. The resident could complete the community-based component of the program in a Northwestern Ontario community as selected by NOSM.
The collaboration between University of Manitoba and NOSM will also foster professional relationships for residents who are based in Manitoba and establish practices in communities of Northwestern Ontario that will ultimately improve referral patterns to Manitoba.
“For residents of Northwestern Ontario, the closest major urban centre is Winnipeg, so they often have to travel out-of-province to receive tertiary care,” says Strasser. “It’s increasingly important for physicians in Northwestern Ontario communities to establish connections to Manitoba, and for organizations in Ontario and Manitoba to create partnerships such as this one, to ensure people get the care they need while staying connected to their community.”
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- The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is committed to the education of high quality physicians and health professionals, and to international recognition as a leader in distributed, learning-centered, community-engaged education and research.
