Building on the strength and foundation of innovative programming and community and industry partnerships, the University of Prince Edward Island is ideally situated to help shape the future of health care in the province.

Why a medical school program in PEI?

• Addressing physician shortages: The new medical school will help address PEI’s physician shortages in the long term.
• Retention of physicians: Historically, physicians tend to stay where they train, making the delivery of medical education on PEI a socially accountable initiative. 
• Collaborative excellence: UPEI boasts a history of academic excellence in health-based programs and interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Planetary health focus: To become leaders in Planetary Health education, which considers the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
• Local access for PEI students: The Memorial regional campus at UPEI will provide seats for 20 residents of PEI, annually, including at least one seat for an Indigenous student.

"In larger centres with established medical schools, some physicians can wait for their whole careers for teaching opportunities. Although I moved here for reasons beyond the medical school, I would not have chosen PEI if they had not announced a medical school. The UPEI Faculty of Medicine made the Island a realistic option for me."

– Dr Nathan St Onge, MD CCFP-EM

What are the priorities of the UPEI Faculty of Medicine and Interprofessional Health Centre?

• UPEI has a duty as a provincial university to contribute to long-term solutions to PEI's current healthcare challenges.
• UPEI and Memorial work collaboratively with PEI physicians, Health PEI, the Government of PEI, and key players to develop clinical opportunities for undergraduate medical learners at Memorial’s regional campus on PEI. 
• The opportunity to pursue medical education at UPEI may inspire PEI learners in science and health-related undergraduate programs to pursue medical education.
• The faculties of Medicine enhance economic activity by attracting researchers and businesses.

Why partner with Memorial to create a regional campus of their MD program in PEI?

• A partnership with an award-winning school such as Memorial University gives UPEI immediate access to an established curriculum and 50 years of experience in generalist training and rural medicine. 
• An exceptional track record focused on rural and Indigenous education and experiences has resulted in an increasing number of physicians practicing in rural family medicine, which aligns with PEI’s vision and needs.
• Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine was awarded the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada “Keith Award” more times than any other faculty for having the largest number of graduates practicing in rural Canada for the most recent 10 years after graduation. 
• Memorial is committed to social accountability, and UPEI offers collaborative and interdisciplinary health and health-related programming that benefits PEI communities.
• UPEI brings expertise in planetary health that can contribute to Memorial’s MD program.
• UPEI can engage experts in bio-medical sciences, community health, and inter-professional health education to build a research community. 

What does being a regional campus of Memorial's Faculty of Medicine mean? 

• Memorial’s regional campus will deliver Memorial’s well-established MD curriculum and align with Memorial’s policies to maintain compliance with the Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS).
• Learners who complete their MD degree at Memorial’s regional campus on PEI will receive a Memorial University MD Degree.