NOSM University

Northern Ontario School of Medicine University
Université de l'École de médecine du Nord de l'Ontario
Former names
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
TypeMedical school
Established2005; 19 years ago (2005)
PresidentSarita Verma
Academic staff
350
Administrative staff
250
Students224
Location, ,
Websitewww.nosm.ca

Northern Ontario School of Medicine University[1] (NOSM University; French: Université de l'École de médecine du Nord de l'Ontario, Université ÉMNO) is a public medical university in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is mandated both to educate doctors and to contribute to care in Northern Ontario's urban, rural and remote communities, and has campuses in both Sudbury and Thunder Bay.[2]

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine was originally created as a partnership between Laurentian University in Sudbury and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, before being made a standalone university in April 2022.[3]

Emblem of NOSM prior to university status.

The school is known for its small class size, its distributed model of education, heavy emphasis on enabling technologies, problem-based and self-directed learning, and early exposure to clinical skills. The school describes its campus as "Northern Ontario". This is evidenced by the close relationship between the school and various communities and First Nations throughout the region. All students complete a month-long placement in an Aboriginal or Métis community in May of their first year. In second year, they travel to smaller communities for two, month-long placements (one in the fall and the other in the winter). The third year is clerkship and is spent living in one of the medium-sized communities for the entire year. The fourth year of studies is completed in Sudbury or Thunder Bay.

In 2021, following the 2021 Laurentian University financial crisis, the provincial government announced NOSM would become an independent institution which would retain collaborative relationships with both Laurentian and Lakehead but will be funded directly by the provincial government as a standalone university.[4]

The school also accepts donations from the public, health care agencies, local governments, foundations and corporations. Donors can choose to support a particular area of the school's development, including social accountability, research capacity, human resource planning and innovation in education.[5] Some of NOSM's largest donors include AstraZeneca, Barrick Gold, BMO Bank of Montreal, Bristol Myers Squibb, CTV, Eli Lilly, Fidelity Investments, HSBC Bank Canada, Hydro One Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, City of Greater Sudbury, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, City of Thunder Bay, and Wyeth Canada.[6]

  1. ^ Northern Ontario School of Medicine University Act, 2021, S.O. 2021, c. 25, Sch. 16
  2. ^ "Northern Ontario School of Medicine delivers more doctors to the north". cbc.ca. CBC News, Thunder Bay. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  3. ^ Gillis, Len (7 March 2022). "Northern Ontario's new NOSM University becomes official April 1". North Bay Nugget. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Northern Ontario School of Medicine moving forward with new status, new name". Northern Ontario Business, June 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Giving". Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Donor Wall | NOSM". Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2022.