Algoma University students in the Bachelor of Science in Biology program will now be prequalified for the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program after the university partnered with Trinity Medical Sciences University.
The recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) will provide “a streamlined admissions process, granting conditional acceptance to applicants that meet the undergraduate curriculum and acceptance guidelines,” says a news release from Algoma University.
“This partnership adds an additional option to the network of opportunities qualified graduates have to access M.D. programs in Ontario and throughout Canada,” say Asima Vezina, Algoma University president and vice-chancellor, in the release. “This MOU with TMSU provides an international pathway for Algoma University graduates, while also contributing to filling the demand for qualified physicians that is present throughout the province, but felt most acutely in northern Ontario.”
Full text of the news release follows:
Algoma University is partnering with Trinity Medical Sciences University (TMSU) to offer Algoma University graduates from Its Bachelor of Science in Biology program an international pathway to a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program.
Graduates of Algoma University’s Bachelor of Science in Biology program will gain a competitive advantage as a result of this partnership, as TMSU will prequalify Algoma U students for acceptance into its Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program and provide a streamlined admissions process, granting conditional acceptance to applicants that meet the undergraduate curriculum and acceptance guidelines. Along with the prequalification, Algoma U students will have access to scholarships to make their pursuit of an international medical degree more affordable. This new partnership provides Algoma graduates with an option to pursue medical education abroad, with the option to return to Canada in the future.
“This partnership adds an additional option to the network of opportunities qualified graduates have to access M.D. programs in Ontario and throughout Canada,” said Asima Vezina, president and vice-chancellor, Algoma University. “This MOU with TMSU provides an international pathway for Algoma University graduates, while also contributing to filling the demand for qualified physicians that is present throughout the province, but felt most acutely in northern Ontario.”
TMSU is operating a fully accredited School of Medicine, called the Trinity School of Medicine, accredited by CAAM-HP (Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professionals), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME), meeting current and future accreditation requirements of the United States and Canada for International Medical Schools enforced through the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates). TMSU is also a recognized Institution by the US Department of Education’s NCFMEA (National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation).
"I'm pleased that we can provide select Algoma students the opportunity to see firsthand what it's like to be a medical student through our mini-clerkship experiences at Trinity's clinical science facilities in Warner Robins, Georgia, and communicate those experiences to other students interested in medical school," said Trinity School of Medicine President and CEO Steven Wilson. Mr. Wilson continued, saying, "North America is experiencing a severe shortage of qualified physicians. We hope this partnership will be part of the solution by producing physicians who are not only skilled in the art of healing but also representative of the communities they serve."
The partnership also provides opportunities for one to two students per year to participate in a fully-funded mini-clerkship program in its teaching hospital in the United States. These students will spend five days in Atlanta, Georgia attending lectures with TMSU medical students and working in core clinical rotations. This experiential learning opportunity will give Algoma University undergraduates firsthand experience of what it is like to attend medical school.
“The mini-clerkship program is an amazing feature of this partnership,” said Dawn White, director, Experiential Learning and International Affairs. “For Algoma students to have an opportunity for real-world experience in a clinical setting is invaluable in helping them make decisions about their future paths. This opportunity aligns with Algoma’s goals to provide more opportunities for both experiential and international learning as part of the undergraduate's experience.”