Millions of Canadians face challenges accessing a family doctor. To help address this national healthcare issue, the University of Waterloo in Canada and St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada have partnered to create new streamlined pathways for Canadian students to earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.
Contents
This collaboration introduces 5-Year and 6-Year MD Tracks, allowing students to transition directly from high school or undergraduate studies into medical training, aiming to increase the number of physicians available in Canada.
Understanding Canada’s Physician Shortage
Access to healthcare professionals, particularly family doctors, is a significant concern across Canada. More than 6 million Canadians currently do not have a family physician. Data from 2022 placed Canada 27th among 37 OECD countries for its number of physicians relative to its population, with just three doctors per 1,000 people. A 2022 comparison of OECD countries highlights this gap.
The Waterloo-SGU Partnership
The partnership between the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Science and SGU’s School of Medicine is described as the first of its kind in Canada. The joint program is designed to provide a guaranteed and earlier entry point into medical education for Canadian students.
Dr. Marios Loukas, dean of the SGU School of Medicine, stated that the partnership is “a strategic response to a national healthcare challenge,” aiming to provide a clear pathway for students seeking medical training.
Four people, two men and two women, seated around a table signing documents during a university partnership agreement
Dr. Chris Houser, dean of Waterloo’s Faculty of Science, emphasized that this program offers a “creative solution” to the need for more doctors to serve Canada’s growing population.
Program Highlights and Features
The new MD tracks offer several advantages for aspiring Canadian physicians:
- Students can earn a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSci) degree from the University of Waterloo.
- Participants receive guaranteed entry into SGU’s MD program upon meeting academic requirements.
- Canadian students applying through SGU’s process can bypass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) requirement.
- Comprehensive academic and career advising is provided from the beginning of the program through the residency application process.
- The program offers flexibility, accepting students directly from high school or after they have completed some undergraduate coursework.
SGU’s Role in Physician Training
St. George’s University has a track record as a major source of new doctors for North America. Over the past five years, SGU has placed an average of 94 percent of its eligible graduates into residency programs.
More than 2,100 SGU alumni are currently practicing medicine across Canada. This existing network provides a precedent for graduates of the new Waterloo-SGU program who wish to return to Canada after completing their studies to provide medical care.
The new program is set to begin in September 2026. Further details and application information are available on the SGU website.
