Hi Everyone,

This week was marked by some tremendous news for PEI students. Just as the Memorial University Faculty of Medicine’s admissions portal opened for all students, UPEI announced that beginning in the fall of 2025, the Rathlyn Foundation Entrance Scholarships for UPEI Medical Students will be granted to every UPEI-based medical student in their first year of study.

These $2,000 individual scholarships will be funded in perpetuity by an overall gift of $1,000,000 from the Rathlyn Foundation. So not only will our Island students gain equitable access through this brilliant partnership with Memorial’s medical school, but they will also receive financial support through this generous university donation.

We are excited and optimistic about welcoming Prince Edward Island’s bright, compassionate, and ethical students to Memorial’s regional campus at UPEI for fall 2025. These students will benefit from the expertise and experience of Memorial’s award-winning curricular framework. The development of the Memorial regional campus at UPEI (and eventual joint medical education program) is a unique journey that all the team at MUN and UPEI are working hard on. Starting out as a regional campus, we provide a Memorial program under Memorial’s accreditation, and PEI students will be registered at Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine.  

Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine adheres to the Memorial University policy, recognizing its strength lies with its people. Building and maintaining an excellent workforce depends on creating an environment that attracts, develops, and retains talented and capable people for all positions.

Memorial is committed to:

• Maintaining a welcoming and favourable work environment for all individuals; Removing workplace barriers that negatively affect individuals or groups.
• Educating all individuals on the values, elements, and application of this policy
• Supporting the creation of an equitable and diverse workforce
• Providing community leadership as a progressive and equitable employer

Memorial University and UPEI strive to practice evidence-based education as well as training our medical students in evidence-based practice. There is ample evidence that patients outcomes are improved when providers that reflect the patients are involved in their care. Therefore, it is imperative that the graduates of the medical program reflect the entire make-up of our diverse population on PEI. 

Memorial’s policy and actions align perfectly with UPEI’s principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and we are fortunate to have such a strong partner to ensure that the accepted students and eventual medical graduates reflect the diverse populations they will serve. 

As always, I would like to remind you that my door is open. To students, faculty, and staff, I am here to support you on this journey, and I am more than happy to take your call or meet with you wherever is convenient for you. Your success is our success, and we are here to help you every step of the way.