An organization with a longstanding commitment to medical education in Northeastern Ontario has made a $1.3-million gift to NOSM University.
The Northeastern Ontario Health Education Advancement Foundation’s (NOHEAF) contribution to NOSM University’s student endowment will be matched by the FDC Foundation, creating a total fund of $2.6 million.
The funds will be used to create two awards for first-year medical students in perpetuity: the Northeastern Ontario Health Education Advancement Foundation Bursary, which will award $5,000-$10,000 to students from Northeastern Ontario, and the Dr. William McMullen Award, which will award $1,000 to a student from Killarney or Manitoulin Island.
NOHEAF was formed in May 2003 to advance the education of medical learners by providing residential accommodation to them and their families, as well as by providing scholarships, bursaries, and awards.
“Even before the existence of NOSM University, the visionaries at NOHEAF believed that training learners alongside practicing clinicians in the North would entice them to stay and practise in these communities—and they were right,” said Dr. Sarita Verma, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO of NOSM University, in a press release. “NOHEAF’s ongoing support will leave a lasting impact on the health-care system in the North.”
“NOHEAF is making this donation to NOSM University to continue the charity’s legacy of helping to recruit and support our young students from northeastern Ontario as they decide to enter medical school and train in our northern communities thereby continuing the proven benefit of their returning to provide medical care in our northern communities,” said Dr. Mulloy President and Chair of NOHEAF.
Since 2005, NOSM University has been delivering on its mandate. It has graduated 902 MDs, 73 of whom are Indigenous, and 179 of whom are Francophone. More than half of NOSM University graduates have stayed in Northern Ontario. NOSM University estimates that about 400,000 people have been helped so far by a graduate.
NOSM University has embarked upon a mission to raise the first $50 million for its Student Endowment Fund. Read more about that effort here.