The Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University serves the communities in which it is embedded and our wider society through its activities in research, education, and community engagement. Demonstrating responsiveness and accountability to the communities we serve in the three missions of education, research, and clinical care is central to our social accountability mission. The Associate Dean of Serving and Engaging Society and the Office of Community Partnerships and Global Health are responsible for providing support to programs, departments and schools within the Faculty in achieving greater social accountability.

Specifically, within the missions of education, research and clinical care, our mandate includes advancing: 

  • Equity and diversity programs across the continuum, from student recruitment, to academic and non-academic Faculty members. We seek to build a Faculty that is inclusive and welcoming of diversity, and which appreciates diverse forms of excellence within its members. The Faculty of Medicine enhances equitable health outcomes for diverse populations with underrepresented voices in health systems
  • Systems change to improve health outcomes. Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine is a valuable agent of socially responsible change for Maritime health systems 
  • Community engagement in the design and delivery of our educational programs and in identifying priorities in our research mission.
  • Environmental stewardship through socially responsible practices within the Faculty. (**Social Accountability)

“The medical school has articulated a vision for improving health in the Maritimes that exceeds its traditional roles of educating physicians and conducting leading-edge research. It’s about asking, ‘what is really driving poor health in our communities?’ and, more importantly, ‘what can we, as a medical school, do about it?’ and, ‘are we doing everything we can, to the best of our ability?’”

Link to Dal Med News Story - Dal Med appoints public health physician to "serving and engaging society"  

Gaynor Watson-Creed, MD 
Assistant Dean, Serving and Engaging Society  
Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University

Reaching out to communities

Dalhousie Medical School plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of communities, in addition to training skillful, compassionate doctors and conducting groundbreaking research.

Our students, residents, faculty and staff are actively involved in partnerships and programs that build connections with and provide meaningful benefits to the communities we serve.

Communities giving back

Individuals and communities in the Maritimes and around the world contribute to the medical school’s mission in many important ways. They give generously of their time and energy to help students and residents develop their skills. They’re willing participants in research studies and enthusiastic partners in many forward-looking initiatives partnerships.

Together, Dalhousie Medical School and its many community partners are addressing challenges and creating new opportunities for better health