The University of Toronto and NOSM University have received funding from Ontario’s Health Ministry to set up a dedicated educational program that will train physician assistants in Northern Ontario in a bid to help relieve healthcare shortages in the region.
The Consortium of Physician Assistant Education—a collaboration between U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and NOSM—has received $123,000 that will be used over the next two years to establish the Northern Stream for Physician Assistant.
“Expanding training opportunities for physician assistants in Northern Ontario is essential to strengthening a health-care system that truly reflects and serves the unique needs of Northern communities,’” NOMA President and CEO Dr. Michael Green said today in a press release.
“Physician assistants continue to be a cornerstone of team-based care. By educating learners in the communities where they are most needed, we are not only expanding access to care—we are helping to build a workforce that is more likely to stay, serve, and advocate for health equity across Northern Ontario.”
A physician assistant is a medically trained clinician who works as part of a health‑care team to assess patients, diagnose illnesses, order and interpret tests, develop treatment plans, perform procedures and provide ongoing care under the supervision of a physician.
They often serve as a patient’s primary point of contact, taking histories, conducting physical exams, assisting in surgery, managing chronic conditions, and helping improve access to care—especially in communities facing physician shortages.
“This partnership will help more Canadians benefit from the excellent care that physician assistants can provide,” said Dr. Jeff Golisky, director of the physician assistant program at Temerty’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. “This expansion is an investment in the health-care systems of Northern Ontario, and the skill and expertise that physician assistants bring to patients.”
The Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant (BScPA) program is a full-time undergraduate degree program at the University of Toronto. Delivered through the partnership, it aims to combine academic excellence with clinical experience to train the next generation of health-care providers where they are needed most.
Work will begin this year to build the framework and regional infrastructure needed to support a Northern-based cohort. By the 2027–28 academic year, the program will be ready to welcome its first class of six students, with plans to grow to a class of 10 students as the program evolves.
While most students in the program are currently able to complete a small number of placements in the North, the Northern Stream will allow learners to complete most of their rotations across the region.
A significant portion of the investment will support the recruitment of regional liaisons—practising physician assistants who will focus on strengthening clinical education by engaging and supporting PAs across Northern Ontario to serve as preceptors, helping ensure high-quality, locally grounded training experiences.
They will also lead targeted outreach to prospective students from Northern and rural communities who are more likely to remain in the region and contribute to its healthcare workforce after graduation.
“By increasing the number of physician assistants trained in Northern Ontario, we are ensuring more people can connect to the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
