CBMC Progress Updates
The CBMC team and partners continue to reach milestones across key areas such as staffing, programming and infrastructure.听 Check out the latest updates below.
Students
Following interviews in early 2025, successful applicants received offer letters at the end of March, and up to 30 students will register for classes in August. Learners will attend classes at CBMC for the first two years of their medical education journey, after which they will progress to years 3 and 4, which will be comprised of clerkship placements located primarily in Cape Breton and rural Nova Scotia.
Admissions to the Cape Breton Medical Campus, through the听Rural Applicant Pathway听prioritizes qualified Nova Scotia applicants with lived experience in rural Nova Scotia Communities.听听
To learn more about the program and admissions process, please visit听www.cbu.ca/medicine听听
Staffing
The CBMC leadership and staff have seen wonderful expansion, with appointments of physician faculty and key roles such as Simulated Patient Coordinator, Faculty Development Manager and Director of Skilled Clinician Program.听
In addition to ongoing program development, orientation for CBMC faculty was completed in May 2025, with supplementary development sessions being offered to support effective tutoring and the use of programming tools and software. 听
Programming
Working closely with counterparts at Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine, the team has been developing the CBMC program to align with its vision of providing medical education focusing on family and听rural medicine pertinent to communities across Cape Breton and rural Nova Scotia.
A key听component of modern medical education, the simulation-based curriculum will provide students with a safe environment to study clinical skills in various formats, including the Simulated Patient Program. Along with faculty tutors, opportunities for local physicians to contribute to student learning include serving as听Elective听Preceptors,听Observed听Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)听Evaluators听and Research in Medicine (RIM)听Mentors,听as well as听participating听in the Rural Medicine Week, Shadow听a Doctor and听Family Medicine Experience programs.听听
Infrastructure
With听support from听the听Province of Nova Scotia and partners such as the Cape Breton Building听& Construction Trades Council, the听infrastructure of the campus will be conducive to the innovative and interactive approach to medical education at听CBMC.听With two major building projects,听prioritization of key areas will ensure the readiness of the campus to听provide exceptional education when students arrive this summer.
Medical Sciences Centre
The state-of-the-art building will house classrooms, tutorial rooms, a medical library and an anatomy lab as well as collaborative work and student spaces. Its design focuses on creating a home for students to receive exceptional medical education in a net-zero carbon structure.听
Some of the completed work includes:听
- Awarding all building tenders听
- Acquiring CBRM approval of permits听
- Installation of all underground electrical and mechanical work听
- Installation of exterior steel framing听
- Design of audio-video system and awarding contract for installation听
- Designing of furniture and ordering for production听
Construction over the next few months will transform the current interior views of steel framing and structural components with the addition of drywall, doors and hardware, masonry, glazing and window installation and millwork. With the recent installation of a roof draining system, crews are also preparing for the completion of electrical/mechanical work throughout the building. Exterior finishes and roofing will also be completed during this time.听
Former NSCC Marconi Building
Visible听from听University Boulevard, the main听artery听of the听CBU campus, the听medical sciences centre听will听connect via pedway to听the former NSCC Marconi Campus building.听Construction within the听Marconi building has included classroom spaces, a medical library, student lounge and study areas, along with student services and office spaces.听
CBMC continues to work with Nova Scotia Health on the development of the 10,000-patient collaborative clinic that will be housed at Marconi. The health authority will听maintain听operational oversight of the clinic upon completion.
