More family doctors will be trained faster as the new medical school at Simon Fraser University (SFU) moves forward with funding for space and operations, as well as a proposed three-year curriculum model and a founding dean.
“We’re training a new generation of doctors with a focus on family medicine to provide the services we need in our communities,” said Premier David Eby. “This investment in the first entirely new medical school in Western Canada in 55 years will mean more family doctors graduating each year to provide care for people.”
The interim site is at the existing building space at SFU’s Surrey campus, as well as a leased space nearby. SFU will design, renovate and equip the spaces to accommodate classrooms, labs, and faculty and staff office space. The Province is supporting the medical school through $33.7 million in capital funding for interim space, alongside $27 million in operational funding through Budget 2024. This builds on a previous $14 million for startup and planning.
The medical school will focus on primary care and leverage the university’s strength in community engagement and strong partnerships with the First Nations Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority, other provincial health authorities and the practice community.
The proposed curriculum will follow a three-year, competency-based model, incorporating a minimum of 130 weeks of instruction. Collaboration, cultural safety and humility will be embedded throughout, along with First Nations and Métis knowledge systems and perspectives.
In May 2024, SFU’s senate and board of governors formally approved the establishment of a school of medicine. The school is working toward candidate status with the Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, with the goal of preliminary accreditation by fall 2025. Upon successful completion of planned accreditation stages within this timeframe, the school will have approval to recruit its first class to start in summer 2026.
On July 4, 2024, SFU’s board approved Dr. David J. Price as the founding dean for the medical school. An alumnus of the UBC faculty of medicine, he practised comprehensive family medicine, including obstetrics and palliative care, in Vancouver for more than a decade. A nationally recognized leader in family medicine and primary care, he has held faculty and leadership roles in the department of family medicine at McMaster University since 2000.
“Taking on the founding dean role for Simon Fraser University’s new school of medicine is both a huge honour and responsibility. I’m confident that our growing and diverse team is ready to tackle the job in creating a primary and community care focused medical school that all British Columbians will be proud of. The partnership and contributions of the First Nations Health Authority and Fraser Health among others will be critical to our success, and I look forward to developing and deepening those relationships,” said Dr. David Price, founding dean, SFU school of medicine.
