P.E.I. Students Gain Access to 11 Health Programs at Dalhousie

Students from Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) will have enhanced opportunities to pursue careers in health care, thanks to a renewed partnership with Nova Scotia. This agreement guarantees P.E.I. students priority access to **50 first-year seats** across **11 high-demand health programs** at **Dalhousie University** for the academic years **2026-27** and **2027-28**.

The new agreement aims to address the increasing pressure on P.E.I.’s health system by providing pathways for local students to enter critical health professions. **Jenn Redmond**, P.E.I.’s Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population, emphasized the importance of expanding access to education in health-related fields. “We certainly know the pressures that health is feeling here on Prince Edward Island, and anything that we can do to start to expand and support students to gain access to programs that can come back and help fill those important sectors is really a priority of ours,” she stated.

Details of the Agreement

The allocation of seats includes specific programs that are not currently offered on the Island. The largest allocations are as follows:

– **Pharmacy**: Six seats each for both 2026-27 and 2027-28.
– **Medicine**: Six seats in 2026-27, decreasing to four seats in 2027-28.
– **Occupational Therapy**: Three seats for each year.
– **Physiotherapy**: Three seats for each year.
– **Dentistry**: Two seats in both academic years.

Additionally, each of these programs will receive one seat over the two years: **Respiratory Therapy**, **Nuclear Medicine**, **Ultrasound**, **Speech Language Pathology**, **Audiology**, and **Physician Assistant**. The inclusion of dentistry is notable, as it had been excluded in the previous agreement that ended in **2024-25**.

**Kim Brooks**, President and Vice-Chancellor of Dalhousie University, highlighted the collaborative effort in training the future workforce. “Our cooperation with the Province of Prince Edward Island, supported by hospitals and clinics across Atlantic Canada, has opened valuable training pathways for our students,” she remarked.

Shifts in Medical Training

A significant aspect of the new agreement is the reduction in medical school seats. While the allocation remains at six for the **2026-27** academic year, it will decrease to four for **2027-28**. **Mark McLane**, P.E.I.’s Health Minister, explained that this change reflects the establishment of the Island’s own medical school, which has enrolled **20 students** this year, with plans to maintain similar enrollment figures in subsequent years.

“We’re transitioning, obviously, now that we’ve stood up our own medical school. So there is a transition period where we’ll taper off those seats,” McLane noted. He expressed optimism that training local doctors will lead to better retention within the province, even as some residency placements may take students elsewhere.

Redmond supported this transition, indicating that the reduced number of seats at Dalhousie is a strategic fit for the province’s evolving educational landscape. “We’ll continue to monitor the needs and how that will impact those seat numbers for the future going forward,” she added.

Students enrolling in these programs will also have access to the **Marion L. Reid Grant**, which assists with funding for eligible health programs across Canada. This grant includes a return-of-service agreement that requires recipients to work in P.E.I.’s health system for two years upon graduation. The provincial government aims to maintain ongoing communication with these students to encourage them to consider career opportunities in their home community.

This renewed partnership between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia represents a proactive approach to addressing the health care needs of the province while supporting the aspirations of its students.