Mississauga Academy of Medicine

The Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM) was established in 2011 as a partnership between the University and Trillium Health Partners (THP), and saw 54 medical learners (Y1) in its first year. It now hosts 216 learners of the 1,000+ collective learners from the 4-yr MD Program between the THP hospital sites and University of Toronto Mississauga campus. The students spend the majority of their first three years in Mississauga (Years 1 and 2 on campus and Year 3 at THP), where students experience a wide range of clinical practice in numerous health care settings. Final year learners are more dispersed as they participate in electives across the country.

The partnership has developed into a strong collaborative and complementary relationship, which optimizes support for MD Program learners across all four years of their training in the clinical-based umbrella of the Mississauga Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Alison Freeland, Associate Dean, Mississauga Campus

Dr. Alison Freeland’s commitment to education and leadership has been a consistent theme throughout her accomplished career. She joined the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto in June 2015, and is also a Psychiatrist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Freeland currently holds the position of Vice President, Education and Academic Affairs and Chief & Medical Director, Mental Health at Trillium Health Partners (THP).

Her clinical work is focused on providing care to people with serious mental illness and addictions. She has a passion to shape the future generation of health care providers to ensure the continued health and wellness of the Mississauga community and beyond.

Dr. Nicholas Blanchette, Director, MD Program, Mississauga Academy of Medicine

Dr. Nicholas Blanchette is a member of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto. He completed his medical school training at the University of Toronto in 2005 and then his pediatric residency and rheumatology fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He is a pediatrician at Trillium Health Partners and runs the SickKids outreach rheumatology clinic in Sudbury. He has taught extensively at MAM since 2011. Dr. Blanchette worked in several leadership positions before becoming Academy Director at the Mississauga Academy of Medicine in 2024 and has received teaching awards both at the Mississauga Academy of Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics. His goal is to support and foster collaborative learning environments based on excellence, advocacy, and inclusiveness.

UTM MD Program Staff Contacts

For a complete list of contacts, please visit the University of Toronto Directory.