Historic number of undergraduate and postgraduate training seats now prioritized for Ontario residents

The Ontario government is further expanding the number of medical school spots to historic highs while helping Ontario students become doctors in the province, whether they studied at home or abroad.

Starting in 2023, the government is investing an additional $33 million over three years to add another 100 undergraduate medical school seats, and another 154 postgraduate medical training seats beginning in 2024, both now prioritized for Ontario residents.

“Too many Ontario students are having to go abroad for medical school because they can’t find residency spots here in their home province while international students learn here then leave,” said Premier Doug Ford.

“That’s why we’re expanding the number of undergraduate and graduate medical school spots and putting qualified Ontario students at the front of the line. We’re training the next generation of Ontario doctors right here in Ontario to stay here and care for Ontario communities.”

The new investment in Budget 2023 builds on the expansion of 160 undergraduate and 295 postgraduate medical training seats announced last year, the largest expansion of Ontario’s medical school system in over a decade.

Dr. Alan Shepard, President and Vice-Chancellor, Western University, expressed support for the initiative. “We are thrilled that the provincial government is expanding Western University’s undergraduate medical education program. Southwestern Ontario is among the fastest growing regions in Canada, and we know that where a physician trains is a strong predictor of where they will practice. With these additional spots, Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry can train more doctors to serve our regional communities. We commend the government for taking this critical step.”

The expansion is part of the government’s Your Health plan, which includes initiatives to hire more health care workers.

Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels