Dr. Preston Smith appointed inaugural dean of P.E.I.’s new medical school

Summerside native Dr. Preston Smith is set to make a return to his roots, taking the helm as the inaugural dean of the faculty of medicine at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in Charlottetown. Dr. Smith is set to start a five-year term in the role on April 1, 2024. He has been dean of the college of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) since 2014 and is credited with leading the college’s extensive restructuring to improve medical education, prioritize Indigenous health, increase research capacity, and the wellness of students. "This special opportunity allows me to contribute to establishing a cutting-edge medical school in Prince Edward Island, closer to family," Dr. Preston said in a UPEI press release. Prior to his role in Saskatchewan, Dr. Smith spent five years as the senior associate dean of education at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, where he completed his undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Dr. Smith also worked for 25 years as a family physician in Moncton, where he was also involved in hospital administration. MUN partnership UPEI’s Joint Doctor of Medicine program, announced in October 2021, will be primarily based on the established curriculum of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). The new faculty of medicine aims to increase training opportunities for future family doctors and general specialists and support the medical career aspirations of P.E.I. youth. The partnership with MUN means the school is not starting from scratch and will be able to access the existing curriculum and expertise immediately. We are not only fortunate to attract someone with Dr. Smith's wealth of experience but also someone known for his passion for family medicine, integrity, transparency, and strong teamwork,” said Dr. Greg Keefe, interim president and vice-chancellor of UPEI. UPEI also recently appointed Dr. Aleisha Murnaghan to lead the medical program development at the new school. A UPEI alumna, Dr. Murnaghan has been an ED physician at Charlottetown’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital since 2010 and was a consulting ED physician at the Ottawa Hospital from 2012 to 2017. The faculty is on schedule to open in the summer of 2025, Dr. Keefe said. The first class will consist of 20 students, with one place reserved for an Indigenous student. School controversy The establishment of the med school has not been without controversy. Both Health PEI and the Medical Society of PEI have expressed concerns that with ongoing doctor shortages on the island, medical professionals will now have the extra burden of working with students while trying to serve the needs of current patients. "Doctors currently working on P.E.I. will have to find time to assist in the training of the medical school's students," the president of the Medical Society of P.E.I., Dr. Krista Cassell, told CBC News earlier this year. “Our medical system is struggling a little. We're struggling with resources, we're struggling with space, infrastructure needs. Physicians currently feel that it's a bit difficult to do the job that we have to do now."

Dr. Preston Smith appointed inaugural dean of P.E.I.’s new medical school

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