Meeting Ontario's Urgent Health Care Needs
Ontario faces a critical shortage of primary care physicians, especially in underserved urban settings, fast-growing regions surrounding major cities and rural and remote communities. York University’s School of Medicine will help address these gaps by preparing physicians to deliver integrated, community-based care.
Without access to a family doctor, many Ontarians rely on hospitals for conditions that could be treated earlier and more effectively in primary care settings. This drives up health care costs and places pressure on community hospitals. York’s new School of Medicine is designed to change that.
Program Overview
York’s longitudinal integrated clinical learning experience (LICLE) model replaces traditional block rotations with continuous, community-based clinical experiences. Students will work with physician preceptors across disciplines, building sustained relationships with patients and care teams. Training begins in primary care settings and continues through longitudinal integrated clinical learning experiences in both urban and rural communities. This model supports better outcomes for students, patients and communities.
Launching in 2028
Pending approval from the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS), York University will welcome its inaugural class of medical students marking the start of a new chapter in community-focused medical education.
Admissions
80 undergraduate medical students annually in an accelerated three-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program
Postgraduate Training
102 residents in family medicine and generalist specialties including general internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, and general surgery
Building on our Strengths
Top 5
in Maclean's University 2025 Rankings (comprehensive category)
36 000+
experiential learning opportunities each year
Top 10
Kinesiology and Health Sciences program in Canada (THE World University Rankings 2024)
No.1
in Quality Education in Canada (THE Impact Rankings 2025)
350+
global partnerships in 60+ countries
Top 40
in the world for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (THE Impact Rankings 2025)
No.1
in Ontario for global collaborative research publications (SciVal 2020-2024)
30,000+
Faculty of Health Alumni since the creation in 2006
“Establishing a medical school has been a long-standing goal of York University. This project reflects our commitment to students whose dream it is to pursue a medical education and to the communities we serve by responding to the urgent need for primary health care physicians” - Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor, York University
What's New
York University unveils new School of Medicine sign
On July 29, 2025 , members of the York University community, government officials, and health care leaders gathered to witness the unveiling of the new School of Medicine sign. Situated next to the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, this milestone reflects the commitment to fostering health care innovation and education across Ontario.
October 8, 2025
Faculty of Health celebrates leaders in health education
September 24, 2024
Schulich research explores health care’s AI revolution
January 25, 2024
Two Faculty of Health professors champion equity in education
