New U of T facility will train health professionals in Scarborough

A rendering of the SAMIH building’s ground floor. Image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects and MVRDV.

The University of Toronto has made history, breaking ground on a building that will house a much-needed new medical academy. The first of its kind in Scarborough, the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) will train physicians, nurse practitioners and other health-care professionals right in the region – to serve the region.

A recent $25-million gift from Orlando Corporation will support the construction of the building. SAMIH itself has received funding as part of the Government of Ontario’s plan to increase the number of doctors in the province.

“We are so grateful for the gift from the Orlando Corporation and the investment by the Ford Government, which have led us to this exciting day,” said Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto. “This state-of-the-art building will enable U of T to cultivate a bold new generation of health leaders who reflect the communities they serve.”

Meeting the needs of underserved communities

Attendees celebrate the groundbreaking for the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health.

“This vibrant new hub for health education in Scarborough is critical to increasing access to health care,” said Patricia Houston, Interim Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Interim Vice-Provost, Relations with Health-Care Institutions. “It will help provide equitable, integrated and compassionate care in the Eastern GTA – and ultimately, it will help improve lives across the region.”

A bold new vision for health education

To support the vision for this new academy, Temerty Medicine and U of T’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing will expand their training to U of T Scarborough. Building on the university’s history of educating tens of thousands of health professionals – a legacy that extends back over a century – SAMIH will graduate approximately 40 physicians, approximately 60 physician assistants, 30 nurse practitioners and 40 physical therapists per year. Over 300 new health sciences students will join U of T Scarborough’s campus, further strengthening SAMIH as a key hub for health education in the Eastern GTA. The newly revamped health sciences undergraduate program offers unique placement opportunities and paid co-ops, enabling students to learn in a close-knit campus setting.

This new generation of health-care professionals will help fill a serious gap; the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has identified Scarborough as an area in high need of physicians. The shortage includes family doctors, as well as other specialists such as child and adult psychiatrists, geriatricians, nurse practitioners and emergency medical physicians.

“Our government is proud to support this historic medical school expansion,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will build on the investments we’re making to help ensure Scarborough and the Durham Region have the health care workers they need now and into the future.”

Attracting the best and brightest students

The impact on the region will be significant. Projected to open in September 2026, the building will include a clinical psychology clinic; a pharmacy clinic (Discovery Pharmacy) led by faculty and students from U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; and clinical settings in which nurse practitioner students, under supervision, can provide direct care to the community. The building will also feature an anatomy lab for medical students, two large technology-enhanced active learning (TEAL) classrooms, a 21-bed clinical skills lab and 10 case-based learning instructional labs.

Strengthening existing partnerships

The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will strengthen connections across numerous hospitals and networks. Its partners will include the Scarborough Health Network, Michael Garron Hospital, Lakeridge Health and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. U of T will build upon existing relationships with local community partners to develop new research and teaching opportunities.

This dynamic hub will bring U of T’s nurse practitioner program to the region. The program is highly sought after for its approach to providing personalized, holistic and high-quality health care to clients and patients across their lifespans.

“This incredible building will help foster a vital pipeline for nurse practitioners,” said Linda Johnston, Dean, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. “Nurse practitioners play a critical role in the health of communities, and future graduates of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of people in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA.”

Experiential learning opportunities

The new building is poised to bring enormous benefits to the region. In addition to enabling the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health to meet the health-care professional shortage by creating a pool of talented graduates, the new facility will help drive innovation and economic growth.

“The Orlando Corporation’s benefaction stands as a model for visionary philanthropy,” said David Palmer, Vice-President, Advancement at the University of Toronto. “It’s a beacon of extraordinary generosity with the potential to inspire other transformative investments in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA.”