UPEI officially opens the new Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) marked the official opening today of its new Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre, a leading-edge facility designed to support interprofessional education and collaboration across multiple health disciplines.

The 138,000-square-foot, $103-million facility—including $30 million in advanced IT infrastructure—represents the largest capital project in UPEI’s history. Construction began in December 2022, and the first cohort of PEI-based medical learners of Memorial University’s regional campus moved in on August 22, 2025. A phased transition plan continues to bring additional tenants and systems online through winter 2026.

The official opening was attended by government partners, donors, stakeholders, and faculty, staff, and student representatives while the broader community was invited to watch the event via livestream.

Tim Walker, UPEI Vice-President Administration and Finance, who served as master of ceremonies, formally unveiled the new name of the facility. The official name—Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre—was selected following a consultative process with campus and community stakeholders.

Dr. Wendy Rodgers, President and Vice-Chancellor, delivered opening remarks, sharing reflections on the significance of the new centre and the shared vision that brought the project to life. She emphasized the transformative impact the facility will have on health education, research, and collaboration at UPEI.

“Today’s opening ceremony is very exciting. It is also our commitment to bring better health care to PEI through teaching, learning, and research across many allied and One Health disciplines. This facility will serve our students in many areas, including nursing, kinesiology, paramedicine, psychology, as well as other first responders and aligns with UPEI’s vision to prepare graduates for a rapidly changing world, and our role in making our world a better place. On behalf of the University, I thank all those involved from day one, including our government partners, for their dedication in making today a reality.”

The Honourable Rob Lantz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, recognized the government’s continued commitment to strengthening the province’s health-care system and training future health professionals close to home.

“This facility opens new doors for Island students and strengthens the path toward a stable and skilled health workforce. It brings education, innovation, and patient care under one roof and creates an environment where future health professionals can grow and succeed. Our province is proud to support this work because it will improve care for Islanders and contribute to a healthier, more resilient future for our communities.”

The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Member of Parliament for Malpeque represented the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.

“Ensuring Islanders, and Canadians, have access to high quality, public, and timely health care is of the utmost priority for our government. Having the ability to train doctors right here, in a state-of-the-art facility will be significant for Prince Edward Island’s healthcare system. This includes strengthening access to care in all corners of the Island. This year, as the school welcomes the first cohort of students, we look forward to our continued partnership with the Government of Prince Edward Island and the University of Prince Edward Island to deliver innovative healthcare and increase the capacity of our healthcare system.”

Today’s event recognized the inaugural class of medical learners attending Memorial University’s regional campus at UPEI, as well as students from other health disciplines who will learn together in this interprofessional environment. Speakers also acknowledged the collaboration between units under the Office of the President, Office of the Vice-President Administration and Finance, IT Systems and Services, Faculty of Medicine, and the many partners and donors who contributed to the success of this historic capital project which was completed on time and within budget.

The program also included a blessing from Elder Barb Jadis, from Abegweit First Nation, who earlier had smudged a prayer flag that will hang outside the building to bless and protect those who study, teach, work, and seek services within it.

The event concluded with a symbolic moment, the Shared Ribbon of Disciplines, which included students from Nursing, Biology, Sustainable Design Engineering, Climate Change and Adaptation, Paramedicine, Kinesiology, Dietetics/Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine, Psychology, and Medicine. The ribbon ceremony highlighted the interconnectedness of health professions and the collaborative nature of the new Centre.

A public grand opening and open house will take place in Spring 2026, once the Centre is fully operational, providing the broader community an opportunity to explore the facility and celebrate the next chapter of health education on Prince Edward Island.

The new UPEI Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre is one of the most technologically advanced facilities in the country, featuring the following:

• a provincial collaborative care centre with a capacity for 10,000 patients,
• the provincial adult ADHD clinic,
• an expansion of UPEI’s Doctor of Psychology program,
• dedicated learning spaces for UPEI’s nursing, dietetics and nutrition, paramedicine, psychology, kinesiology programs, and more,
• a world-class Clinical Learning and Simulation Centre that serves learners and clinicians across PEI and beyond.