first students start classes at sfu's new medical school in surrey
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for the first few years, students in the sfu school of medicine will learn in the main sfu surrey campus, pictured with visiting dignitaries at its 2019 opening.
jason payne
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b.c. took a big step along the path to graduating more homegrown doctors on wednesday with the first day of classes at simon fraser university’s new medical school in surrey.
students in the three-year program will attend school year-round, knocking one full year off the time it takes to finish a traditional medical school program.
for now, the students are in an interim learning space at sfu surrey in central city tower, with the permanent location expected to be finished in 2030.
“like many places, b.c. is facing a shortage of doctors,” said premier david eby in a statement. while eby said steps have been taken to get more family doctors connected to more people, the new school is key to speeding up that work.
“the long-term solution is to train more doctors here at home,” eby said. “the students starting at the sfu stephens family school of medicine today will care for families through some of life’s happiest and hardest moments. we need to keep building on the progress we’re making to ensure care is there for you when and where you need it.”
forty-eight medical students had their first day of orientation on wednesday. the curriculum is designed to train doctors to work in team-based primary care and serve in communities throughout b.c., said the ministry of post-secondary education in a news release.
rendering of the centre block development that will house the medical school at sfu surrey when completed.
city of surrey
sfu spokesman matt kieltyka said the first group of students are from communities across b.c. and represent every regional health authority. over half bring experience from previous careers and nearly half hold graduate or professional degrees beyond their four-year bachelor’s degree.
the first students will be ready to start residencies as early as 2029. future cohorts will grow steadily until there are 120 students a year in the program by 2035.
student jasper delichte, who has a science degree from ubc and is the executive director of the advocacy group voices of brain injury, said she is “incredibly excited” to get started.
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“i was drawn to the program’s commitment to advancing health equity through community-embedded medicine, which aligns with the kind of physician i aspire to become.
“i hope to build my career in a community health centre, providing trauma-informed and culturally safe care, while advocating for equitable access to health care across british columbia.”
“this inaugural cohort will help shape a new approach to medical education focused on community-based care, equitable access and the diverse health needs of people across b.c.,” said dr. david price, dean of the sfu faculty of medicine.
the school is supported by a $41.1 million commitment from the b.c. government for operational funding, while sfu recently received a record $40 million donation from philanthropists ratana and arran stephens, the owners of nature’s path organic foods.
construction is underway on the medical school’s permanent home in centre block, next to sfu surrey, at a projected cost of $520 million.
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