Contribution to Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Weaver, Simmons LLP, Northeastern Ontario’s largest law firm, has donated $15,000 to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) in support of the school and its medical students. The funds are earmarked for a scholarship for students seeking to start a practice in the North, as well as in direct support of the school of medicine’s endeavours and plan for growth in the region as its own independent university.
“Weaver, Simmons LLP has strong roots in the North. We’ve practiced here for 90 years,” says James Simmons, the firm’s managing partner. “With the growth of innovation in medicine and the need to ensure that Northern Ontario’s residents get the best medical care without the need to travel south, we felt it paramount to do our part to assist medical students in their transition to practice and invest in the long-term growth of health care here at home.”
“We thank Weaver, Simmons LLP for supporting NOSM medical students,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM Dean, President and CEO. “The majority of our students are from Northern communities, and come from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. Increasing support for students through scholarships will address the unique barriers to medical school that some may face.”
Funds will be used to create the Weaver, Simmons LLP Northern Practice Scholarship, which will support an upper-year student from Northeastern Ontario with an intention to pursue residency in a Northeastern community.
About Weaver, Simmons LLP
Weaver Simmons LLP is the largest law firm in Northern Ontario. For over 90 years it has proudly served northern interests and has built a solid reputation for integrity in the profession and for quality of service to its clients. At Weaver Simmons LLP, over 30 full-time lawyers practice in the areas of civil litigation, criminal, corporate, commercial, real estate, aboriginal law, mining and natural resources, family, and labour and employment law with over 60 support personnel including law clerks, law students and administrative staff. It provides services in both official languages, as well as Ojibwe and Italian, and serves institutional, business, family and individual clients throughout Ontario. The strength of Weaver Simmons comes from its connection and dedication to Northern Ontario. It is proud to have supported, through volunteer and board work, over 60 charitable and community-based organizations.
About the Northern Ontario School of Medicine
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is an award-winning socially accountable medical school renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for health equity, NOSM relies on the commitment and expertise of the peoples and communities of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practice in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote and underserved communities. NOSM’s graduates, faculty, learners and staff are changemakers who lead health-system transformation in Northern Ontario. The School is a recipient of the Charles Boelen International Social Accountability Award from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada and the prestigious ASPIRE award, which recognize international excellence in social accountability and medical education.
For further information, please contact either of the following individuals:
James C. Simmons, Q.C., A.S.M.
Managing Partner
Weaver, Simmons LLP
Phone: (705) 674-6421
Email: jcsimmons@weaversimmons.com
Rahim Dharamsi
Chief Advancement Officer
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Phone: (705) 662-7012
Email: rdharamsi@nosm.ca
Photo credit: Sudbury.com