Island students are gearing up to start classes at Prince Edward Island’s new medical school, the regional site for Memorial University’s doctor of medicine program. Dr. Peter MacPherson, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital pediatrician and associate dean for the P.E.I. Campus of Memorial University’s faculty of medicine, expressed satisfaction with the smooth progress despite ongoing construction at the north end of the UPEI campus.
Orientation for the students had to be adjusted due to the Air Canada work stoppage, shifting to a virtual format instead of the planned trip to St. John’s. MacPherson highlighted the significance of this milestone for both the students and the province, emphasizing the opportunity for training doctors entirely on P.E.I.
The program entails six years of training, with four years dedicated to the medical degree and two years for a medical residency program. Plans are in place for UPEI and Memorial Faculty of Medicine to collaborate on a joint medical degree, with an estimated staff count of 130 to 150.
The construction cost of $103 million was divided among various contributors, including a $19.5-million federal investment and $10 million from UPEI. The remaining funds were provided by the province. Advanced technology will be integrated into the school, enabling connectivity between classrooms in P.E.I. and St. John’s, along with mixed-reality technology for immersive learning experiences.
A medical home to serve up to 10,000 patients will be established under Health P.E.I., with operations expected to commence in mid to late October. Concerns have been raised about the government’s commitment to opening medical homes and enforcing return of service requirements for graduates from the medical school. Accountability measures are being emphasized to ensure promises are kept.
Overall, the new medical school represents a significant development in healthcare education and services on Prince Edward Island, setting the stage for enhanced medical training and patient care opportunities in the region.
