Ontario expands medical grants and residency training to address doctor shortages

The Ontario government has launched an expanded Learn and Stay Grant – Medical Education program, backed by a $220 million investment. The initiative aims to support more than 2,000 medical students training to become family doctors. Under the program, the grant covers undergraduate medical school tuition, books, and other direct education costs for postgraduate students, provided they commit to practicing family medicine in Ontario for at least five years following graduation.

In conjunction with these financial incentives, Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is expanding its family medicine residency program in Southwestern Ontario. Starting in 2027, two new residency sites will launch in Sarnia-Lambton and Oxford County. These sites will each host two residents, creating four new positions intended to address physician shortages and strengthen primary care in rural and regional communities.