Hi Everyone,
I’m pleased to share a brief update on the continued progress of the UPEI Faculty of Medicine as we advance medical education on Prince Edward Island.
We have reached an important milestone: UPEI is now an applicant medical school in the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) process. This marks a key step as we build the academic and clinical foundations for an independently accredited MD program designed in and for PEI.
This work continues to build on our strong collaboration with Memorial University. The regional campus model allowed us to begin training learners earlier, and that partnership remains foundational. As we move through the accreditation process, we will continue working together, with the relationship evolving over time as UPEI’s Faculty of Medicine develops.
In parallel, we are advancing planning across the full continuum of medical education, including postgraduate training. Over the coming year, we will pursue accreditation through the Canadian Residency Accreditation Consortium (CanERA) at both the institutional level and for a proposed PEI-based Family Medicine residency program, in coordination with Health PEI and Dalhousie partners.
This momentum was reinforced at the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) 2026, where UPEI was warmly received as an applicant medical school, reflecting strong national interest in our collaborative model and progress to date.
Our approach remains phased and collaborative. We are continuing to deliver medical education with Memorial, collaborating on the development of the medical school, and advancing toward accreditation in a way that reflects an evolving relationship rather than one ending.
Thank you to our faculty, staff, clinicians, and partners for the leadership and collaboration that continue to move this work forward. We are building a sustainable, locally grounded model of medical education to support the future health of Islanders.
Feel free to reach out anytime to connect or learn more.
Dr. Preston Smith
Dean, Faculty of Medicine, UPEI
The government of PEI and the University of Prince Edward Island, in strategic partnership with Memorial University, are investing in the future and ultimately improving healthcare for all Prince Edward Islanders.
