Cape Breton Medical Campus

Infrastructure for Cape Breton Medical Campus Progresses

Two local companies are playing major roles in the construction of the Cape Breton Medical Campus. Joneljim Construction has been awarded the Construction Manager contract, with Trifos Design Consultants designing the new Collaborative Care Clinic. Joneljim Construction will provide advisory service during the pre-construction phase, and will perform the required work during the actual construction, while Trifos Design Consultants will provide architectural engineering, interior design, and specialty consultant services.

“This awarding of these two contracts demonstrates once again the major impact the Cape Breton Medical Campus will have on our community,” said David C. Dingwall, President and Vice Chancellor of Cape Breton University. “This is an important step in our progression and in providing more equitable primary care access for all Nova Scotians.”

Geotechnical investigative work on the site for the new medical campus has begun, which will expand the footprint of Cape Breton University, as will the Collaborative Care Clinic. The clinic will be located in the repurposed Marconi Campus and will accommodate up to 10,000 patients.

“Along with functionality, the Collaborative Care Clinic will be a place of comfort and care,” said Dr. Kevin Orrell, Interim Associate Dean of the Cape Breton Medical Campus. “With additional access to primary care, along with the research opportunities that will be generated through the campus, we can expect improved health outcomes province wide.”

Trifos Design Consultants is working with the internationally renowned architectural firm Perkins & Will, who have been secured to design the Cape Breton Medical Campus Building. The firm is known for their expertise in designing medical educational facilities.

The Cape Breton Medical Campus is being established in partnership with the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine and will deliver the curriculum of Dalhousie University, welcoming up to 30 students each year. The campus is expected to open in September 2025.

The Physician Perspective

As a practicing family medicine physician for over 40 years, Dr. James MacKillop is the Family Medicine Advisor for the Cape Breton Medical Campus at Cape Breton University, currently under development in partnership with Dalhousie University. He has shared his views on the medical campus and its anticipated impact on the health of Nova Scotians.

Dr. MacKillop believes that the campus will become one of the best facilities in Canada for training physicians for rural practice, delivering the curriculum of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine, with a particular focus on family and rural medicine. Seeing the establishment of the Cape Breton Medical Campus as a great opportunity to address the lack of physicians in rural Nova Scotia, he is certain the campus will help to recruit and retain physicians and help to improve access to care and provide better health outcomes.

Dr. MacKillop also trusts that there are opportunities for the campus to become a leader in rural population health research. “We can create an environment where innovation and creativity flourish,” says the physician. “We can focus on the issues that affect the populations we serve and improve the health of our communities.”

According to Dr. MacKillop, the students at the campus will be coming from rural areas, with an interest in practicing in these communities. He notes that their mentors will be family medicine practitioners so the exposure to this important specialty will be a vital aspect of their educational experience, adding ‘in my view, this will go a long way to improving healthcare access for Nova Scotians.” 

Engaging Physicians Across the Province

The Cape Breton Medical Campus will have a significant impact on rural areas throughout the province, and engaging physicians in these areas is an important objective of the leaders tasked with its creation. 

Recently, Dr. Kevin Orrell, Interim Associate Dean, travelled to Yarmouth and New Glasgow to meet with health professionals to provide them with the latest information regarding the campus.

On August 29^th, Doctors Abir Hussein, Michelle Cain, Melissa Power, and Joe Gillis, along with Ms. Angela Greene, Chair of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation and Ms. Kerry Munroe, Senior Leader of the Chamber of Commerce met In Yarmouth.

August 30^th saw Doctors Brad MacDougall and Oseme Erikah, along with Mr. Murray Hill and Ms. Nicole LeBlanc of the Healthy Pictou County Community Group come together in New Glasgow. Both groups were interested to learn what role they could play in training more physicians interested in family rural medicine.

Those involved commented on much they appreciated receiving the information firsthand and expressed a willingness to help in any way. While both groups are currently working with Dalhousie University to train residents (and a small number of undergraduate medical students), they believe they have the needed mentorship and clinical teaching experience to accept more learners at all levels, given the appropriate administrative supports and infastrucure are in place.

Strong support for the campus was voiced by both groups. Recognizing that the Cape Breton Medical Campus will help to improve human health resources for all Nova Scotians, the groups are committed to engaging learners as the initiative proceeds.

Introducing Anne Walsh 

We are pleased to introduce Ms. Anne Walsh as the new Administrative Assistant to Dr. Kevin Orrell, Interim Associate Dean of the Cape Breton Medical Campus. With over 30 years of experience in medical office management, Anne is excited to be a part of such an important initiative. “I will be able to tell my grandchildren that I was part of a project that will have such a positive impact on the health of Nova Scotians,” she says.

Anne believes that the medical campus will be particularly beneficial for rural areas and that those trained here are more likely to practice here. An avid runner, Anne recently took up the game of golf, and admits that she is hooked. Welcome to the team, Anne!

Interested Participants Wanted

As part of the admissions process for Dalhousie Medical School, interested individuals are being sought to act as interviewers in a Multi-Mini-Interview (MMI) process on November 25 & 26, 2023. These virtual synchronous (real-time) interviews are an important component in assessing potential students for Dalhousie Medical School.

If you are interested in being an interviewer, your must commit to two 1-hour training sessions prior to interview weekend, with additional training if needed.

As well, you will need to commit to three 1.5-to-2-hour blocks (totalling 6-7 hours) on one of the interview dates between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 pm.

You must not be aware of any potential conflict of interest, and cannot be planning to apply to Dalhousie Medical program in the near future.

Dalhousie Medical School will need 140 plus interviewers. Each interviewer can expect to interact and assess 21-24 potential students per day. If you are interested in participating, please click here to complete survey.

If you have questions regarding the process, contact Carolyn Doyle, Admissions Administrator at Carolyn.doyle@dal.ca.