opinion: ontario’s investment in team-based healthcare starts with university teaching clinics
toronto metropolitan university (tmu) will receive support for its two new primary care teaching clinics, contributing to an overall plan to connect 300,000 more ontarians to team-based family health care
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teaching clinics are more than training grounds. they are community health hubs that can respond to local needs, address social determinants of health, and empower people to live healthier lives.
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on may 8, 2025, the government of ontario made a pivotal investment in the future of health care, announcing $300 million to expand teaching clinics and interprofessional primary care teams across the province.
toronto metropolitan university (tmu) will receive support for its two new primary care teaching clinics, contributing to an overall plan to connect 300,000 more ontarians to team-based family health care. this bold move signals support for a growing shift in how we deliver, train for, and think about primary care.
in communities across ontario, many people still struggle to find a family doctor. one in five ontarians lacks regular access to primary care. the traditional model lacks the support to meet increasingly complex patients’ growing demands and needs. that’s where interprofessional, community-based teams come in.
interprofessional teams bring together family doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, registered dietitians, mental health professionals, and others to provide wraparound care. these models don’t just treat illness; they support prevention, chronic disease management, mental health, and community wellness.
the new toronto metropolitan university (tmu) school of medicine is scheduled to open fall 2025.
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patients benefit from coordinated, holistic care, while health professionals benefit from collaborative practice environments that help distribute patient care strategically with maximum efficiency and efficacy.
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in partnership with seven ontario universities, including tmu, the teaching clinics benefiting from this boost will train family doctors and other health professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, while connecting more people to primary care.
the government announcement was made on-site at the new tmu school of medicine, which is slated to open this fall, with the launch of the first md program in september.
the school is grounded in this collaborative care philosophy, which requires an integrated approach to healthcare that brings together different primary care services. the school’s focus on interprofessional care skill-building is a differentiator, and it’s what the future of health care looks like.
tmu’s school of medicine will train physicians in collaborative health care by establishing two integrated healthcare centres. this approach is core to the new medical school’s innovative curriculum, which will equip students with the skills to develop interprofessional health networks that team-based care relies on.
by embedding medical learners directly into interprofessional, community-based clinics, we’re not just training doctors, we’re building effective care teams and transforming health care in the region. students gain real-world experience working alongside nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other professionals, learning to lead within collaborative care systems.
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as interim assistant dean of education at tmu and president of the ontario college of family physicians, i know firsthand that this is a critical moment for our health system. we must reimagine primary care delivery to be more equitable, accessible, and resilient. the government’s primary care action plan, backed by a $2.1 billion investment, is a significant step toward realizing that vision.
dr. jobin varughese, interim assistant dean of education at tmu’s school of medicine and president of the ontario college of family (centre), speaks on a panel exploring healthcare education pathways for diverse students.
michael morgan / peel district school board
these teaching clinics are more than training grounds. they are community health hubs that can respond to local needs, address social determinants of health, and empower people to live healthier lives. when we invest in primary care teams, we invest in the foundation of our entire health system. more than a medical school initiative, this transformation is a public health and equity intervention that ensures every ontarian can receive primary care coordinated with existing health and social services.
the future of health care lies in interprofessional, team-based primary care rooted in the community. tmu’s new clinics, with government support and investment, will offer a model of what’s possible when we prioritize collaboration, prevention, and access. let’s keep building on this momentum so that family physicians have access to the resources they need to support their patients best, and ensure every ontarian has the care team they deserve.
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dr. jobin varughese is the interim assistant dean of education at tmu school of medicine and president of the ontario college of family physicians.
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