The Northern Ontario School of Medicine has received an unprecedented $1.2 million donation to improve healthcare in our region.
The money comes from Louisiana radiology professor Dr. Hugh Robertson who has roots in Cochrane, Ontario.
He says he’s concerned about the shortages of physicians in the North and wants the money to be used to support the school’s strategic plan to address the problem.
Some of the money will be used to establish a new one-of-a-kind Centre for Social Accountability that will focus on research and innovation, community impact, policy leadership and advocacy, and education.
The school will tackle various issues impacting our area including poverty, water insecurity, climate change, health inequity, marginalized populations and access to care in Northern Ontario.
Dr. Robertson says “I have fond memories of practising in Northern Ontario and I see the great need for funding. I want to support NOSM with its strategic plan to address health human resource planning.
Dr. Sarita Verma is the Dean, President and CEO of the school and says “Increasing our focus on Northern Ontario communities, partnering on innovative population-health research and engaging in cutting-edge education will advance the work that we are doing and help establish sustainable solutions to health care in Northern Ontario. We thank Dr. Robertson for embracing this vision and are humbled and deeply grateful for supporting this critical work.”
The gift marks the largest by an individual donor in the school’s history.
