Interviews for UPEI's 1st med school admissions on track for coming months

The University of Prince Edward Island's medical school is progressing well and on schedule to have its first class in September 2025, says the inaugural dean of the faculty of medicine.

Preston Smith said the admissions process is underway, but due to confidentiality constraints he couldn't say how many applications have been received.

"The first step is to see that your application resulted in the offer of an interview, so that'll be before Christmas that they will hear," he said of prospective students.

"The interview process will unfold over January and February and the admissions committee will do its work and actually people will receive letters of offer in the spring."

The $91-million medical school on the UPEI campus in Charlottetown, which will initially operate as a regional campus of Memorial University's faculty of medicine, will have 20 students in the first year and will use Memorial's curriculum.

The future plan is to become accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools and offer a joint doctor of medicine degree with the St. John's, N.L., school.

Smith said Island doctors have shown a lot of interest in participating in teaching and training. The school will send out letters about different opportunities and will look to finalize agreements during the winter.

It's important they get the faculty development they need before summer, he said.