About the Faculty of Medicine

The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine strives for international leadership in health research and education.

Founded in 1843, the Faculty of Medicine catapulted onto the world stage with Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best’s discovery of insulin in the 1920s. In the 1950s, the implantable cardiac pacemaker was invented here. In recent years, the Faculty has led the way in the quest to link genes to disease, having identified genes responsible for muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs, congenital blindness, Alzheimer’s disease, and the T-cell receptor function relevant to immune disease. The discovery of stem cells in 1963 by James Till and Ernest McCulloch, winners of the 2005 Lasker Foundation Prize, heralded the development of one of the largest group of stem cell biologists globally. Also in 2005, the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research was founded as a state-of-the-art biomedical research in functional genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics, stem cell and systems biology, regenerative medicine, and molecular imaging. In 2008, the Faculty renewed its commitment to public health research and education with the launch of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Today, the Faculty of Medicine ranks among the top academic medicine institutions in the world, whether measured in peer-reviewed publications, number of PhD candidates and post-doctoral trainees, or research funding totals. Between 2000 and 2005, faculty had over 20,000 studies published in peer-reviewed journals, and over 179,000 citations. The Faculty has established, in partnership with its affiliated hospitals, internationally recognized academic centres including the Wilson Centre for Research in (Health) Education, the Surgical Skills Centre, and the Joint Centre for Bioethics. Recently, a major initiative in interprofessional education with the five other Health Science Faculties at the University of Toronto has been established.

“Our Faculty is unique in that it serves a large and culturally diverse metropolitan community through 10 fully affiliated hospitals and 19 community affiliated sites. The depth and breadth of the school creates unparalleled opportunities for synergy. Faculty members represent an immense pool of knowledge and expertise, and researchers have the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate creatively in a socially accountable environment,” says Dean Catharine Whiteside.

The Faculty has over 5,000 faculty members and 6,000 students (which includes undergraduate and postgraduate medicine, rehabilitation sciences, medical radiation sciences, physician assistant education, doctoral and professional graduate programs), and with its hospital partners, the University of Toronto is the largest research entity in Canada, and one of the largest in North America, spending some $3 million per day fostering new knowledge. The award-winning faculty, supported by over some $600 million in research funds, constitute a powerhouse of research and many are world experts in their fields.