York University has officially embarked on the accreditation process for its proposed new School of Medicine, a vital step mandated by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS). This rigorous peer-review process is required for all Canadian medical schools to ensure they meet strict educational and training standards. Schools must also demonstrate they have the necessary resources, infrastructure and support systems in place to produce graduates who are well prepared to serve their communities.
In this first phase, the University is forming 14 accreditation committees to guide the development of the Doctor of Medicine program. These committees bring together a broad range of experts, including: faculty, staff, physicians and interprofessional health-care practitioners, Black and Indigenous health providers and partners, and members of the community. Interested faculty members are encouraged to lend their expertise by joining a committee; a list of committees, their terms of reference and scheduled meeting dates are available on the School of Medicine website. Committee members’ insights will be crucial to helping York develop a program that aligns with its vision of a patient-centred, community-based program where the next generation of primary care physicians are trained to leverage the most recent digital health technologies and to work collaboratively within interprofessional health-care teams.
“Accreditation is more than a procedural requirement,” says Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic. “It’s an essential step in designing a school of medicine that delivers top-tier education and health-care training for the next generation of frontline primary care physicians. Our goal is to build a program that transforms medical education, training students and residents to practise in community-based, interprofessional teams, and ensuring they incorporate a person’s individual and community context into their understanding of the patient.”
Working in tandem with the University’s governance processes, the accreditation committees play a pivotal role in shaping the School of Medicine’s curriculum, infrastructure and support systems. Comprising a diverse group of internal and external members, the committees will help ensure that York’s medical program meets the highest standards, responding directly to the health-care priorities of communities across northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, the District of Muskoka and adjacent rural areas.
York University’s vision for the School of Medicine extends well beyond conventional medical education. That vision emphasizes community-centred health-care training, fostering cross-disciplinary research and tackling health-care disparities. By engaging faculty and staff alongside partners from various sectors, including Black and Indigenous health organizations, the University is developing a program that reflects the diversity and specific health-care needs of the region.
Committees will develop policy and standards recommendations, keeping the University on track to provide its submission to CACMS by January 2026. At the same time, the University will be adhering to its internal Senate and Board governance processes for establishing new academic units and programs. Academic quality assurance remains a responsibility shared by academic units, Faculty councils and Senate, with the vice-provost academic managing oversight of the University’s quality assurance protocols and procedures.
The School of Medicine initiative builds on York’s established leadership in health education and research, expanding the University’s commitment to positive change by addressing the critical health-care needs of Ontarians.
David Peters, the recently appointed dean of record, is responsible for overseeing the accreditation process. As dean of record, Peters will ensure the University meets CACMS standards and will facilitate the process of accreditation.
“We are indeed fortunate to have a broad range of academics and health-care experts come together to lend their advice and support for our medical school planning,” says Peters. “We’re grateful to the many people who are giving their time to help us shape this innovative medical program. Their dedication and insights will be invaluable as we develop a program that is forward-thinking and deeply rooted in the needs of community.”