After more than two years of planning and anticipation, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has officially opened the Greater Toronto Area’s first new medical school in over 100 years, located in Brampton. The historic milestone is set to address the urgent shortage of family doctors in Peel Region and across Ontario.
The new School of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of 94 medical students this month. Unique in Canada, the program is the first to offer both undergraduate and postgraduate education simultaneously, featuring 16 residency programs with a strong emphasis on family medicine and community-based care.
“This school will show students all the great things about family medicine early and often,” said Dr. Jobin Varughese, Associate Vice President of Academics at William Osler Health System and interim Assistant Dean of Primary Care Education at TMU. “Our goal is to embed them in the community. When trainees work and live here, a high percentage stay here.”
The need is significant. According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, more than 223,000 residents in Peel currently do not have a family doctor. That number is projected to reach 430,000 by 2026. Provincewide, as many as one in four Ontarians could be without access to a family physician as early as next year.
Beyond health care, the school is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits. A TMU report projects the medical school will generate between $1.2 to $2.6 billion in economic activity over the next decade and create more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs across Peel Region.
Students are already making personal connections to Brampton and envisioning careers rooted in the community. “When I saw that TMU was creating their medical school, I could’ve almost cried,” said first-year student Zaynashae Boreland. “I can actually stay home, stay in a familiar environment, and stay with my family in the times when I’ll need them most. I plan to set my roots here.”
Resident doctor Dr. Humaira Mehboob, who has practiced abroad, said the school’s community focus is a perfect match. “It has a bold vision and aligns with my values. I’ve already had exposure to areas like addiction withdrawal and sexual health. The experience here feels unique, and my family and I have decided to stay in Brampton for good.”
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown hailed the opening of the school as “a transformative moment for our city and our residents,” noting the long-standing need for more physicians in one of Canada’s fastest-growing urban centres. Regional Councillor Rowena Santos called the school “a victory for the people of Brampton,” adding, “This investment means our community will not only have better access to health care but will also become a hub for innovation, training, and world-class medical research.”
The school includes two primary care teaching clinics, giving students real-world experience alongside practicing family doctors in Brampton. By 2027, half of TMU’s medical students will spend longitudinal clerkships embedded in family physicians’ offices across the region.
“This is just the beginning,” Varughese said. “The partnership between Brampton and TMU has the potential to create world-class leaders in medicine and put Brampton on the global map for health care excellence.”