September 13, 2005 Source: Lakehead University: http://communications.lakeheadu.ca/news/?id=194 Canada’s Newest Medical School Opens its Doors (Thunder Bay - Sept. 13, 2005) Canada’s first new Medical School in a generation was opened today in high-tech fashion by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty following a telemedicine roll call to more than 10 far-flung communities that will be involved with the new School. The Ontario Premier declared the Northern Ontario School of Medicine officially open after establishing two-way video conference links to a series of cities, towns and villages across Northern Ontario. The first Medical School in Canada to open its doors in the Internet Age, it is also the country’s first twin site Medical School, with a West Campus located at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, and an East Campus hosted by Sudbury’s Laurentian University. The Grand Opening this morning was a two campus videoconference, with Premier McGuinty and His Excellency John Ralston Saul among the distinguished guests at Laurentian University, while Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper and Ontario Minister of Health George Smitherman were among the featured speakers at Lakehead. Ontario Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman and Canada’s Commissioner of Official Languages Dr. Dyane Adam joined the proceedings by videolink from Toronto and Ottawa, respectively. With a special emphasis on rural and remote medicine, NOSM will pioneer the marriage of technology, education, research, and health care delivery, promised Founding Dean Dr. Roger Strasser. The School is based on the premise that medical students tend to practice where they have studied, and NOSM graduates will contribute to reducing the critical shortage of physicians in Northern Ontario. “Since beginning our work on this project three years ago, the staff of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine has promised to create ‘A Medical School like no other,’” Dr. Strasser noted. “We want to reaffirm that promise to the people of Ontario, and to you students of the Charter Class, here today.” The School’s first 56 undergraduate class members arrived on their respective campuses ten days ago, and have already begun their studies which will be undertaken in a wide variety of community and health science settings across Northern Ontario. -30- | 