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THUNDER BAY — The newly-appointed leader of NOSM University plans to travel to Thunder Bay next month as part of a familiarization tour of Northern Ontario.
Dr. Mike Green, a professor in family medicine, public health sciences and public policy at Queen's University, was named Tuesday as the incoming president, vice-chancellor, dean and CEO of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University in Kingston.
He begins his new job in November.
In an interview, Green – who practised medicine for eight years on the James Bay coast – said he's excited to return to the North, but he and his family don't know yet which community they will relocate to.
"Our family is going to take this first year to explore the North, see Thunder Bay, see Sudbury, see the Soo, all the places in between, and figure out where we're going to land."
Green expects to be in Thunder Bay at the end of July, and in Sudbury at the beginning of July.
One major issue he won't have to worry about for now is NOSM U's place on the Lakehead University campus.
Last year, Green's predecessor – Dr. Sarita Verma – said it would be "up to them" [Lakehead] if NOSM were to continue using space on the Lakehead campus.
She said Lakehead had increased the lease payment from the previous nominal amount of $2.00 a year to $800,000,
A Lakehead official stated it couldn't use taxpayer dollars and student tuition fees to subsidize independent entities, but that it was offering NOSM U a discounted rate.
There was no announcement about the outcome of negotiations, but TBnewswatch has now learned the two parties recently reached a settlement.
In a statement this week, Lakehead University said it is "very pleased to have signed an agreement with NOSM U earlier this spring that will allow NOSM U to continue to have a presence in Thunder Bay and on the Lakehead campus to June 30, 2027."
It's not clear whether the two parties intend to renew that arrangement after it expires in three years.
Dr. Green was unable to shed light on the lease negotiations, saying "I am not aware of that since I don't start 'til November 1. I have not gotten into that sort of level of detail yet."
But he emphasized he "can't imagine" NOSM U without a significant presence in Thunder Bay, the hub city for the Northwest and one of the two founding cities for the school.
He also said he supports the concept of multiple centres of excellence across the North, including "some growth into Sault Ste. Marie, building on some of the really successful programs we have in places like Timmins, North Bay, Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Kenora . . . Even small places can be really great centres of excellence. Marathon and Wawa are great examples. Two pretty small communities that have been outstanding teaching and clinical experiences for our students."
Green noted that the university is implementing a significant growth plan.
"The exciting thing for NOSM University right now is the big expansion that's just starting in undergraduate medical education. Also in the postgraduate residency programs where the size, over a five-year period, is basically doubling . . . To me, this means lots of opportunity for growth in our training programs in both the Northwest and the Northeast. And that would include Thunder Bay, but it would also include many of the other surrounding areas in Northwest Ontario as well."
Dr. Verma indicated in 2023 that NOSM U would explore opportunities to provide training in midwifery, pharmacy, rehabilitation sciences, oral health and other allied health professions.
Green agreed that being its own degree-granting university means NOSM can consider additional health professions programs.
"Which ones are the right fit? I think I will find out from talking to people across the North when I'm there . . . Rehab is super-important, you know, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and I know that NOSM U already supports placements for people in rehab across the North. So, potential for growth there. Which ones are the right fit is going to be a discussion.
"You want to expand to serve the needs of the North, but you also don't want to do so in a way that is not sustainable."
