The Physician Assistant (PA) Program at the University of Toronto is beginning an exciting new chapter as the program moves to its new home at the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrative Health (SAMIH), with the first cohort of students at the new campus being welcomed this Fall. Along with the transition to the new campus, the PA Program also joined the Medical Education Portfolio in October 2025.
Over the past year, the program successfully completed the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP) review, with external reviewers from the University of Manitoba and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 2025, the program also delivered its first Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited Faculty Development Program, which included four sessions on topics such as Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Caring for LGBTQ2S+ Patients. Faculty members were actively engaged in scholarly activities and contributed to international, national, and local educational forums, including the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) Annual Conference, the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM), and the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Conference. We were also pleased to recognize the achievements of our faculty and students at the annual Program Awards Event; a complete list of award recipients is available on our website.
Looking ahead, the program will undergo several significant developments. In August 2026, the program will relocate to the newly constructed SAMIH, providing students and faculty with expanded opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and access to state-of-the-art lecture and small-group-learning spaces. With another expansion approved by the Ministry of Health, this first cohort at SAMIH will expect a class size of 66 students. In addition, the program is transitioning from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree. The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program is anticipated, pending institutional and government approval, to welcome its inaugural cohort in Fall 2027.
While these changes will bring new challenges, the program team, supported by the broader Temerty Faculty of Medicine, is confident in its ability to navigate this transition successfully. We remain firmly committed to delivering an excellent educational experience and to preparing our graduates to become highly competent Physician Assistants. Our greatest source of pride continues to be the success of our students and the meaningful impact they make every day on patient care and on the healthcare system as a whole.
Dr. Jeff Golisky, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP
Director, BScPA Program
Temerty Faculty of Medicine
About the PA Program
Physician Assistants (PAs) are regulated health professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians in a wide range of clinical settings. Working within collaborative, team-based models of care, PAs help extend physician services, improve access to care, reduce wait times, and enhance the overall quality of patient care.
The Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant (BScPA) degree is a full-time, second-entry undergraduate professional program housed within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. The program is delivered in collaboration with NOSM University (NOSM U).
The program is offered through a distance and distributed education model, with the majority of academic coursework delivered online. During the first year, students complete their studies remotely from their home communities. The second year is dedicated to clinical education and includes 44 weeks of supervised clinical rotations across Northern and Southern Ontario. Throughout the program, students participate in strategically scheduled in-person Campus Blocks, which provide opportunities for hands-on clinical skills training, simulation-based learning, and comprehensive face-to-face assessments of student competencies.
The BScPA program graduated its first cohort of 17 students in 2011. Since that time, the program has grown steadily, with the Class of 2025 consisting of 46 students. To date, the program has graduated a total of 395 students. Our alumni are practicing throughout Ontario and across Canada in northern and rural communities, as well as within the Canadian Armed Forces.
