Mississauga Academy of Medicine fêtes outgoing director
The Mississauga Academy of Medicine celebrated the academy’s inaugural and founding director Dr. Pamela Coates at a reception on the U of T Mississauga campus on Feb. 23. Coates, who held the position for two terms, steps down at the end of February.
In attendance were Interim Vice-President and Principal Ulrich Krull, former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, philanthropist Terrence Donnelly and incoming director Sarah McClennan.
Coates, who was accompanied by her husband and family members, thanked the well-wishers for their support over the past decade as she worked to help establish the academy at UTM.
“All of you wanted this to succeed,” Coates said. “This was the vision of politicians, including former mayor Hazel McCallion, Ian Orchard, Ulrich Krull and leadership at the hospitals, who seized this vision for a changing society that would need a new type of physician. Political leaders saw the idea to establish regional campuses, and that if we educated physicians in the communities where they would eventually practice, this would improve health care in those communities. This academy continues to present an enormous opportunity to shape our future physicians and the health care environment.”
Michelle DiEmanuele, President and CEO of Trillium Health Partners, lauded Coates for her dedication to establishing a medical school in Mississauga. “You found ways to work with the university, our funding partners and our donors to make this happen,” DiEmmanuele said. “Your legacy is a solid foundation that compels people to come here to teach, to learn, and to stay in our community.”
Dr. Patricia Houston, vice-dean, MD program with U of T’s Faculty of Medicine, commended Coates for her advocacy and perseverance to establish the program. “You are a fantastic coach, mentor and role model for students and faculty, and administrative staff,” she said. “The student experience at MAM is the most important thing, and you do everything in your power to ensure it is the best experience possible.”
Nadia Salvo, who was part of the MAM’s first graduating class in 2005, thanked Coates for her encouragement and inspiration. Salvo, who is currently finishing a family medical residency at Mississauga’s Trillium Health Partners, said that Coates’ leadership had played a significant role in her own success, and that of her classmates. “There is no bigger champion than Dr. Coates,” she said. “Her contagious excitement is responsible for fostering the creation of the MAM identity. Her perseverance and vision shaped MAM into a desired place to study medicine.”
“I’m confident that [incoming director] Sarah McClennan will improve on what we have started here,” Coates said. “The academy is a cornerstone of other types of academic programs that will be developed in this community, further growth in health education at U of T Mississauga and in our community.”