The first new medical school in Western Canada will open in 2026. Simon Fraser University will be operating the program on an interim campus for the next four years before moving the program to its own campus in 2030. This is good news for me and countless other BC residents without family doctors. The lack of space in Canadian medical schools has left our provincial healthcare systems unable to keep up with demand for healthcare workers, many of whom have been suffering from burnout or adapting to new disabilities related to their infections of COVID-19.

SFU Medical will be open only to residents of BC and the Territories, and there are no spots for out-of-province or international students. The first class will have only 48 students, and they will begin the program in 2026. The SFU medical program will have a focus on primary and community care and an emphasis on Indigenous medicine and traditions. It’s a bit late, though not unwelcome, for BC residents, over a quarter of whom don’t have a primary care doctor.

It’s a 3 year program to be completed after a 4-year degree. That’s a year shorter than most medical programs offered across Canada, which could explain its price point, higher than other BC medical schools. Prospective students will be able to apply with their GPAs, MCAT scores, or both, opening the door for more returning students to build on their existing science degrees. BC residents will keep their fingers crossed that the program is able to grow in time: we need more doctors, and if this program proves viable, my fingers are crossed this will lead to an expansion of medical school programming in the province.