University of Prince Edward Island medical school to receive its first class in fall

Prince Edward Island's provincial flag flies in Ottawa, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

CHARLOTTETOWN — The dean of the University of Prince Edward Island’s new medical faculty told a legislature committee Wednesday that the pieces are falling into place for the school to receive its first students in September.

Dr. Preston Smith did not share details about the number of applicants or staff for the medical school but said the institution will be a centre of learning while providing primary care to at least 10,000 patients. The school plans to enroll 20 students in its first class.

“In terms of applications to the medical school, there’s been (a) more than adequate cohort of medical students apply and be offered interviews, and those interviews will take place early in February,” Smith said.

“Some medical schools don’t publish their data on how many applications they have, and some do.... Application numbers (are) really not that relevant.”

Gordon McNeilly, a legislature member with the Opposition Liberals, raised questions about doctors being pulled away from other parts of the province to teach at the school and provide care at a new clinic in Charlottetown associated with the university.

“I’m worried about where the medical professionals will come from.... Will it affect rural health?” he asked.

Melanie Fraser, CEO of Health P.E.I., said about 70 physicians, from both inside and outside the province, have expressed interest in teaching at the university. The first year will require a total of about 900 hours of teaching, she said.

From town hall meetings to coffee shops, Smith said he has been talking to doctors about the new school and the future of medical education on Prince Edward Island. He gave an example of a family doctor who is considering moving to the Island and wanted to tour the medical school building.

“She wanted to see the evidence that we are going to have a first-class medical education institution here on P.E.I. because that was what was making it attractive to her,” he said. He is meeting with another family doctor this weekend, he added.

The Medical Society of Prince Edward Island, representing 400 working and retired physicians in the province, has also expressed concern about finding a balance between doctors teaching and treating patients. It has urged the province to focus on alleviating the doctor shortage before moving ahead with a medical school.

“Open the medical school when physicians and the health-care system can fully support quality medical education and provide quality patient care,” the society said in a list of priorities published ahead of the 2023 provincial election.

Green Party health critic Matthew MacFarlane said in an interview that after listening to the presentation to the committee, he is worried there will not be enough faculty in place come September.

“At this point, as we’re mere months away from the first cohort of students taking their seats at the medical school, I think we would want to see these positions really firmed up beyond coffee shop chats or office consultations,” he said. “That is my concern.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2025.