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BC Welcomes First New Medical School in Decades
6 Aug
Summary
- SFU's new medical school welcomed its first 48 students on Wednesday.
- This is the first new medical school in Western Canada in nearly 60 years.
- The program emphasizes community-based primary care physicians.
Simon Fraser University (SFU) launched its new medical school in Surrey on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, with its first cohort of 48 students.
The SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine offers a unique three-year, year-round program designed to graduate students a year earlier than traditional medical degrees.
The program's curriculum will focus on preparing students to become community-based primary care physicians, including roles in family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics.
This historic development is the first new medical school in Western Canada in nearly 60 years and the second in British Columbia. Students will gain practical experience in community clinics and hospitals within the Fraser Health region.
The permanent school facility is slated for completion in 2030, with current students utilizing an interim learning space. The province has committed $41.1 million in annual operational funding to support the school's expansion, with plans to reach 120 students per cohort by 2035.
