THUNDER BAY — The president and CEO of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University says it is up to Lakehead University whether the medical school continues to operate its Thunder Bay campus on Lakehead's property over the long term.
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine was run jointly by Lakehead and Laurentian Universities from 2005 until 2022 when it became a stand-alone degree-granting institution.
NOSM U's Dr. Sarita Verma has signalled that the new university aims to expand its role regardless, but wants to work closely with Lakehead as it does so.
In an interview Monday, Verma emphasized that NOSM U will always maintain a strong presence in Thunder Bay.
"We were able to establish a one-year relationship that keeps us here at Lakehead until June 30 this year," Verma said. "And then we would like to stay for as long as they'll have us. I think those discussions rely on their desire to have NOSM U in situ."
Verma said she's been trying hard to reverse the impression that NOSM U is leaving Thunder Bay or the Northwest.
"We're not. Half our staff, half our students, half our infrastructure is here in Thunder Bay. Whether it continues at Lakehead is up to Lakehead," Verma said "We would be aspiring to have very strong relationships with Lakehead and the City of Thunder Bay because we see ourselves actually growing and building, and expanding toward a significant, strong, not only clinical but health professions future in the Northwest."
She added that she has reached out to Lakehead's new incoming president, Gillian Siddall, and hopes to meet with her as soon as she begins her new role later this year.
"And I've had really positive conversations with the chair of their board. So it is our wish, and our intention, to maintain that relationship."
Verma noted that NOSM U has a lease for its space at Lakehead for 15 years.
"It's legally viable, and we believe that lease should be respected. That's our position, and we have no reason to not want to continue with that."
In a story published last year, a NOSM spokesperson revealed that the medical school's lease agreement for buildings at Lakehead and Laurentian Universities provided for annual payments of $2 per year, and said this reflected the fact the Ontario government paid for the buildings.
Kimberley Larkin said NOSM was working with both schools to explore options "to renew its relationship agreements including the leases" as it awaited the formal approval of NOSM's status as an independent institution.
NOSM U and Lakehead both declined to comment Wednesday on where those discussions currently stand.
TBNewswatch also submitted an inquiry to Lakehead asking whether LU would prefer that NOSM U remains on campus, and when Lakehead expects a decision will be made one way or the other.
In its reply, LU stated "We continue to nurture a future with NOSM U that builds on our mutual strengths."
It noted that the two institutions did work together to find a solution that addressed NOSM's space needs on campus this year, and that Lakehead is optimistic the parties will find a solution going forward.
According to the statement, Lakehead and NOSM U entered into a five-year agreement last year that sees Lakehead supporting NOSM U's research activity by providing NOSM U researchers with access to research and innovation services, supports, and access to shared research and lab space.
"Lakehead is also helping to facilitate access to federal and provincial funding opportunities for NOSM U researchers that are available to Lakehead University, includng tri-agency funding. Over the course of the past year, there have been some outstanding successes related to this collaboration," it said.
Verma, who holds degrees both in law and in medicine, said she's always been interested in offering a joint law/medicine degree as well as other potential combined graduate degree programs with Lakehead.
"We are really excited at being partners with them. They are a world-class institution, and there's absolutely no reason why even for the veterinary school they're planning, for us [not] to actually look at the facilities we have that offer medical class facilities, to be able to collaborate with them."
She said she's told Lakehead officials "Let's lift all boats, and let's make sure that our intention to stay is well-known to them. It's positive. But it is up to them."
In a recent blog, Verma wrote that NOSM U also intends to explore opportunities to provide training in midwifery, pharmacy, rehabilitation sciences, oral health and other allied health professions.
NOTE: This story was updated at 4:40 pm to add details pertaining to the lease agreement between NOSM U and Lakehead University
