Legislative Electronic Publications -- Largest Faculty Of Medicine Class In 30 Years Begins At The University Of Manitoba

Manitoba Government News Release:
Information Services, Room 29, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Telephone: (204)
945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988

August 23, 2006

LARGEST FACULTY OF MEDICINE CLASS IN 30 YEARS BEGINS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
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Government Fulfils Commitment To Expand Number of Medical Seats: Oswald

Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald today brought greetings to the largest medical class in 30 years at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of medicine.

Oswald congratulated 101 medical students as they accepted their official white coats as part of inaugural exercises.

“Today’s event marks the fulfilment of the province’s commitment to expand the University of Manitoba’s medical school to 100 seats,” said Oswald. “The health-care system is an important cornerstone of our province and we look forward to each student being a part of the delivery of quality care to the citizens of Manitoba when they graduate in 2010.”

“Our government is committed to increasing educational opportunities for all Manitoba students including those considering careers as physicians,” said Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford. “I applaud these first-year medical students as they will invigorate the profession and increase the number of much needed health-care professionals in Manitoba.”

This is the largest first-year enrolment since 1976. Since 2001, the Government of Manitoba and the faculty of medicine have been working together to increase the number of students in the medical program. The number of spots increased to 85 spaces from 70 in 2001, to 93 spaces in 2005 and now 101 medical school spaces have been filled to help meet the health-care needs of Manitobans.

Today’s announcement expands on the government’s provincial recruitment strategy which includes:

expanded enrolment at the University of Manitoba medical school and an expanded licensing program for international medical graduates;
new $50,000 grants for family doctors to return to school for a third year in priority areas such as emergency medicine and anesthesiology; and
new grants to Canadian medical school graduates: five yearly grants of $15,000 for each year of full-time work in urban Manitoba and five grants of $25,000 for each year of full-time work in rural Manitoba.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

PHYSICIANS IN MANITOBA

Since 2001, more than 460 medical students and residents have received financial support in return for committing to practise in Manitoba including 56 in rural Manitoba.
Since 1999, over 150 specialists have been recruited through the Specialist Recruitment and Retention Fund.
The number of spaces in the University of Manitoba Medical School has increased by 43 per cent.

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