TORONTO — Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) launched Canada’s newest medical school this week, enrolling 94 students who reflect the diversity essential for the nation’s future healthcare providers. Dr. Dominick Shelton, interim assistant dean and an emergency physician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, emphasized the importance of the school’s location in Brampton, a community that is diverse yet underserved in terms of medical resources.

"It’s very intentional for us to be locating the school in Brampton — a diverse community, underserved from a medical human resources standpoint," Shelton said.

This week also marked the University of Prince Edward Island's first medical students, as it becomes a regional campus of Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador. Additionally, York University in Toronto and Simon Fraser University in Surrey, British Columbia, are set to open new medical schools in the coming years.

Shelton expressed hope that these new institutions will address the shortage of primary-care physicians in Canada. "We are going to be showing our students the joy of practicing family medicine," he noted, adding that TMU is establishing an integrated health center in the community.

Four students from TMU's inaugural class shared their personal journeys to medical school, highlighting the challenges they faced along the way.

**Zaynashae Boreland** was born with a non-functioning multicystic kidney and spent much of her childhood at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. The 26-year-old was inspired by the quality of care she received but initially doubted her path as a Black teen. "I wanted to be a health-care worker but I didn’t see anyone that looked like me. So I was looking for a path," Boreland said.

After being discouraged by a high school teacher, she pursued an arts degree in psychology at the University of Ottawa. A volunteer role with the student emergency response team reignited her passion for healthcare. "I lost sight of it, but now I’m back. Here I am, this is my path," she said. Boreland later attended nursing school at the University of Toronto and has worked as a nurse for two years. She aspires to open a multidisciplinary family practice clinic in Mississauga, aiming to be a role model for Black children and teens in her community.

**Samah Osman**, 26, immigrated to Canada from Sudan and developed an interest in medicine early on. She helped her mother navigate the healthcare system, which often struggled to accommodate non-English speakers. Osman faced her own health challenges as a teenager when her symptoms were dismissed by a doctor. "I knew that they weren’t normal," she recalled.

After multiple surgeries during her studies at Western University, she recognized that her experiences were not unique among Black women. "This is something that is consistently reported by Black women and by Black populations," Osman said. She worked in public health to better understand social determinants of health and is now excited to begin her medical journey.

**Vanessa Wilson**, 24, did not consider a medical career until she became a patient at 17. After suffering a broken leg during a badminton match, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor. Her orthopedic oncologist inspired her to pursue medicine. "He became not only the person that cured my cancer, but a person that was really, really comforting during that entire experience," Wilson said.

She developed a passion for accessibility after spending time in a wheelchair during her recovery. Wilson recently completed a master’s degree at the University of Toronto’s Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and aims to provide accessible services to her future patients.

**Adrian Sejdijaj**, 22, is the son of immigrants from Brazil and Albania. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces at 18 and trained as a medic while studying biomedical science at TMU. Sejdijaj was inspired by the holistic approach of healthcare professionals he encountered. However, as a first-generation university student, he faced self-doubt about his competitiveness as a medical school applicant.

"It was such an expensive process and time-consuming process to even apply to medical school," he said. Despite feeling overwhelmed, he found motivation in a cousin who became a general surgeon in Brazil. "If she could do it, I could do it," he said, which helped boost his confidence.

These students represent a new generation of medical professionals committed to addressing healthcare disparities in their communities.