(Durham Region) – SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 – Lakeridge Health is proud to announce the launch of its community hospital-based Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU) co-taught by family physicians and internists. This CTU is a bold, innovative model that is reshaping how future doctors are trained.
Located at Oshawa Hospital, the CTU is a cornerstone of Lakeridge Health’s growing academic mission and exemplifies our commitment to a medicine-first philosophy, focusing on the development of well-rounded, comprehensive physicians serving small communities. It marks a major milestone in the organization’s journey to create an academic healing environment that integrates education, innovation, and compassionate community care.
“This is a proud and transformative moment for Lakeridge Health, our teams, and the communities we serve,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO of Lakeridge Health. “The launch of Lakeridge Health’s new CTU marks a major step forward – not only in integrating the expertise of family doctors and hospital internists, but also in shaping the future of care through education. This initiative highlights our commitment to academic excellence and positions Lakeridge Health as a growing hub for clinical learning and teaching, and innovation and collaboration.”
While the CTU is available for all clinical and medical learners, it also supports groundbreaking academic programs such as the pioneering Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program and the Queen’s-Bowmanville-Oshawa-Lakeridge (QBOL) partnership – two unique education models designed to address the urgent shortage of family physicians across Durham Region and beyond. These programs offer medical students a blend of community-based learning and hands-on hospital experience, building strong connections with local patients and health-care teams from day one.
This fall, medical students in the first cohort of the Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program will begin their clinical rotations at Oshawa Hospital, spending four weeks in the CTU as part of their third year. Over time, this model will expand across units and hospital sites within Lakeridge Health, supporting growth in teaching capacity and student engagement.
“This is a huge step forward for medical education in Durham Region,” said Dr. Randy Wax Chief of Staff, Lakeridge Health. “The CTU is a game-changer that reflects our deep commitment to both high-quality patient care and academic excellence. It also strengthens our partnership with Queen’s University to train exceptional family doctors who will help close critical gaps in primary care.”
Unlike traditional one-on-one preceptor models, the CTU creates a coordinated, team-based learning environment where learners, including medical students, residents and other clinicians, are taught by a combination of family physicians and internists. This structure not only enriches the learning experience but also prepares students to become future educators and fosters collaborative, interprofessional care.
“Our CTU model delivers hands-on, high-quality clinical training right here in our community,” said Dr. Joel Kennedy, Chief and Medical Director, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Lakeridge Health. “It meets students where they are, reflects the realities of today’s health system, and shows them how family physicians, internists, and other care professionals work together to deliver outstanding care.”
The CTU also includes other health professionals such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who will train and work alongside physicians as part of an integrated care team. This collaborative model strengthens communication, supports more thorough assessments, and ensures patients benefit from multiple perspectives in their care.
By 2026, Lakeridge Health expects to support more than 80 medical learners annually through the Queen’s–Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program alone, increasing to more than 130 in the years to follow. If even half remain in the region to practice, it could mean over 82,000 more people in Durham Region gaining access to primary care.
For patients, the new CTU means:
- Seeing more medical and clinical learners as part of their care team, always under close supervision.
- Receiving care from a broader, collaborative group of health-care professionals.
- Opportunities to engage with learners and contribute to their education in respectful ways.
Importantly, the voices of patients and families helped shape the CTU model and will continue to guide its development. The involvement of Patient and Family Advisors ensures the CTU remains respectful, inclusive, and patient-centred.
“We’re proud to create an environment where patients, learners, and health-care teams come together to shape the future of care,” added Davis. “This is about creating a sustainable, community-rooted health system that delivers on our vision of One System. Best Health.”
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About Lakeridge Health
With five hospitals, four emergency departments, three critical care units, a long-term care home, a full range of medical and surgical specialties, more than 20 community health-care locations and a state-of-the-art surgical centre within the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre, Lakeridge Health offers some of the broadest and most comprehensive acute care, ambulatory care, and long-term care services in Ontario.
Lakeridge Health is also home to several regional specialty centres and services, including the Central East Regional Cancer Program, R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, The Shoulder Centre, eye care, thoracic, gynecology oncology and chronic kidney disease services. Additionally, we are proud to serve our community with a full suite of inpatient, ambulatory, and community-based mental health and addictions services, and provide safe, high-quality, compassionate care in our state-of-the-art long-term care home, Lakeridge Gardens.
Lakeridge Health is redefining the future of health care through transformative research, dynamic academic partnerships, and groundbreaking clinical trials. With over 140 active studies, we’re at the forefront of advancing medical knowledge, expanding treatment options, and improving the lives of our patients. Our one-of-a-kind Queen's-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program is on the leading edge of training the next generation of primary care doctors. Each year, over 3,000 students and trainees are supported by the Lakeridge Health Education and Research Network (LHEARN). Through our innovative collaboration with Ontario Tech University, we’re also harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize patient care. Together with our academic, community, and industry partners, Lakeridge Health is tackling the toughest health challenges and elevating the quality of care for the communities we serve.
Guided by our vision of One System. Best Health. and supported by a dedicated team of nearly 9,000 staff, physicians, and volunteers, Lakeridge Health is a proud member of the Durham Ontario Health Team (Durham OHT) and works in collaboration with the Durham OHT, as well as primary care, and community and government partners to foster a truly integrated, regional system of care. Together, we are focused on empowering people to live their best health and fostering an accessible, inclusive, and equitable environment for all.
For more information contact:
Strategic Communications Media
communications@lh.ca
