Cape Breton Medical Campus Welcomes Class of 2030 to Sydney Campus

 

The Cape Breton Medical Campus (CBMC) welcomed a second group of medical students to the Sydney campus this week. CBMC’s Class of 2030, comprised of 30 future family doctors, has the distinction of being the first students to begin their studies in Cape Breton University’s new Medical Sciences Building. The state-of-the-art facility was constructed with a significant investment from the Province of Nova Scotia, aiming to increase the number of family doctors serving rural communities across the province. The Class of 2030 brings CBMC’s current enrolment to 60 students. The new cohort joins the inaugural class, now entering their second year of studies.

Dr. Stephanie Langley, Senior Associate Dean of the Cape Breton Medical Campus, says the start of a new academic year is an exciting time for students, faculty and staff alike.

“We are delighted to welcome our newest learners to the CBMC while celebrating the continued success of our inaugural class as they progress toward becoming family physicians,” says Dr. Langley. “These students are helping to shape the future of healthcare in rural Nova Scotia, developing the clinical skills, knowledge and community connections that will enable them to make a meaningful impact as future family physicians.”

Among the incoming students is North Sydney resident Alyssa Burke, who says she feels fortunate to begin her medical education close to home in a purpose-built learning environment.

“It’s incredible to see the new campus and how thoughtfully it has been designed with students in mind,” says Burke. “I expect I will be spending a lot of time here, so having welcoming gathering spaces, dedicated study areas and advanced technology that keeps us connected with classmates across Dalhousie’s campuses will be amazing.”

The CBMC was envisioned by Cape Breton University and established through a partnership with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine. CBU President and Vice-Chancellor David C. Dingwall commends the province for its commitment to expanding medical education to Cape Breton.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming the second class of future physicians to the Cape Breton Medical Campus. We are deeply grateful to the Province of Nova Scotia for its continued confidence in our partnership with Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine and for this important investment in Cape Breton and rural Nova Scotia’s future,” says President Dingwall. “By working together, we are strengthening medical education, expanding opportunities for aspiring physicians and helping ensure more communities have access to the health-care professionals they need for generations to come.”

The CBMC provides students from rural Nova Scotia with the opportunity to study family medicine in Cape Breton. As a distributed education site, the campus delivers Dalhousie Medical School curriculum and is part of a broader medical education network that includes Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. Dalhousie Medical School has been educating doctors for more than 150 years, with the CBMC built on that reputation. Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Eileen Denovan-Wright, says the continued growth of the Cape Breton Medical Campus strengthens that legacy while advancing healthcare access to those who need it.

“Welcoming our second cohort of learners to the CBMC is an exciting milestone for Dalhousie Medical School and for medical education in Nova Scotia,” says Dr. Denovan-Wright. “The success of our inaugural class has demonstrated the exceptional learning opportunities available in Cape Breton and we are proud to support these students as they begin their medical education journey and prepare to make a meaningful impact on the health of the communities they will serve.”