UNBSJ to get medical school

New Brunswick students will have the chance to enrol in medical school in their own province as early as September 2009.

Minister of Post-Secondary Education Ed Doherty made the announcement Monday in Saint John thatup to 30 undergraduate medical students will be trained at the University of New Brunswick's Saint John campus.

Kathryn Hamer, vice-president of UNBSJ, says this news is great for students who don't want to leave theprovince to train in medicine. Hamer says it's also good for health care in the province.

"We know from research that where young doctors train is where they tend to stay to start their practice and to start their professional careers," she said. "New Brunswick has a tremendous shortage of doctors, and Saint John has a shortage of doctors, so this is a chance to provide the opportunity in New Brunswick to train those young people in the hope they will stay here and contribute to our medical community."

Dalhousie University will supply the curriculum for the program.

Health Minister Mike Murphy also announced 27 doctors will be hired in the next five years, to teach the students and work in the province.