Horizon and University of Ottawa establish formal partnership to support New Brunswick medical students

New affiliation agreement creates pathway for NB students to complete clinical rotations at home

(HORIZON) – Horizon Health Network (Horizon) and the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine have formalized a new partnership that will allow New Brunswick students enrolled in the university’s undergraduate medical program to return home to complete their core clinical rotations at Horizon hospitals.

The affiliation agreement establishes a formal pathway for New Brunswick medical students to gain hands-on clinical experience while remaining close to home.

This partnership will be administered through Horizon Medical Education, ensuring students receive proper orientation, supervision, and support throughout their clinical rotations.

Students participating in the program will be onboarded through Horizon Medical Education and will have the opportunity to work alongside Horizon’s medical teams, gaining valuable insight into Horizon’s operations, culture, and patient care approaches.

“This partnership represents an important step forward in our commitment to developing the next generation of physicians who understand and are connected to New Brunswick’s health care system,” said Dr. Ken Gillespie, Horizon’s Regional Director of Medical Education. “By providing these students with direct experience in our hospitals, we’re not only supporting their education but also building relationships that we hope will encourage them to consider returning to practice with us after graduation.”

While the program will initially serve a select number of students, the agreement strengthens ties between Horizon and the University of Ottawa, creating new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange that benefit both institutions.

For students who choose to participate, the program offers the ability to maintain personal and professional connections in New Brunswick while pursuing their medical education.

“We’re pleased to formalize this relationship with Horizon, which provides our New Brunswick students with an excellent opportunity to train in their home province,” said Dr. Alan Chaput, Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine. “This partnership ensures our students can access high-quality clinical training while maintaining their connection to the communities they may one day serve as physicians.”

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