Fleming College's New Healthcare Program to Advance Plans After $500,000 Anonymous Gift

Fleming College has expanded its healthcare programming with a new Medical Imaging Technology program, supported by a $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor to fund the facilities, equipment and technology needed to train the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

Fleming’s Board of Governors has endorsed a proposed Medical Imaging Technology program, marking an important milestone in the College’s healthcare expansion plans.

Medical Imaging Technology would join the College’s planned Medical Laboratory Assistant and Medical Laboratory Technologist programs, with Fleming targeting the introduction of all three programs by Fall 2028, subject to required approvals.

The programs are being developed in response to growing workforce pressures across the healthcare system and needs identified by regional healthcare partners, including Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

“Healthcare providers across our region are telling us clearly where the workforce gaps are, and Fleming has an important role to play in helping address them,” said Dr. Theresa Knott, Fleming College interim president. “Advancing Medical Imaging Technology represents another important step in our healthcare expansion. Together with our new medical laboratory programs, it will create new opportunities for students while building a stronger pipeline of skilled professionals for hospitals and healthcare organizations in our communities.”

According to Fleming, the need is particularly significant in medical laboratories. They note that Canada continues to face demand for laboratory professionals as the workforce ages and healthcare needs grow. Fleming’s healthcare expansion strategy identifies more than 31,000 projected job openings for medical laboratory technologists and assistants across Canada between 2024 and 2033, with nearly 30 per cent of the workforce already age 50 or older.  

PRHC has also identified recruiting and retaining laboratory professionals as a growing challenge in the region. In a letter supporting Fleming’s MLA and MLT programs, PRHC said staffing shortages can increase workloads, lengthen laboratory turnaround times and delay diagnosis and treatment. It also noted that training students locally increases the likelihood graduates will remain and work in the region.  

“Medical laboratories are an integral component of the healthcare system, with the vast majority of clinical decisions relying on laboratory testing,” said Dr. Katie O’Reilly, PRHC Medical Director, Laboratory Services. “Ensuring an adequate workforce of well-trained MLAs and MLTs is essential to maintaining high-quality, timely diagnostic services for our patients.”  

Medical imaging is another area of growing regional need. PRHC has identified increased demand for diagnostic imaging services and a need for additional professionals in ultrasound, X-ray, and MRI.

“Demand for diagnostic imaging has grown dramatically across our region, with the volume of tests at PRHC nearly doubling over the past decade,” said Noel Bennett, Interim President and CEO, Peterborough Regional Health Centre. “Having enough skilled professionals to meet that demand is critical to ensuring physicians have timely access to the diagnostic information they need to make clinical decisions and supporting the high-quality care our patients deserve.”

The expansion builds on Fleming’s long history of healthcare education. Over the past decade, more than 12,000 healthcare professionals have graduated from Fleming, and healthcare programs currently account for more than one-quarter of the College’s full-time student population.  

“A Medical Imaging Technology program at Fleming College would help build that workforce here at home, creating opportunities for students while strengthening healthcare capacity for the future,” said Bennett. “We’re pleased to expand our collaboration with Fleming, and see it as essential to addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages in our region.”

The need for additional healthcare professionals is expected to grow further as the region’s population ages. Fleming’s planning projects significant growth among older age groups in its catchment area over the next decade, including a 28 per cent increase in the population aged 75 to 79 and a 51.8 per cent increase among those aged 80 to 84.  

Supporting the expansion will require significant investment in specialized facilities, equipment and technology. An anonymous donor has committed $500,000 to help Fleming move that work forward, including investments in a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory, simulation facilities and technology, and HyFlex learning environments designed to expand access for mature and remote learners.

“It is very gratifying to support Fleming’s healthcare expansion efforts,” said the anonymous donor. “The addition of new programs and improved access for learners will help more young people pursue meaningful and critically needed careers in healthcare. There are few opportunities where you can invest in the lives of young people while also helping to strengthen our healthcare system and, ultimately, the health and well-being of our entire community. I would encourage other donors who care about the future of our community to consider supporting Fleming College.”

Fleming’s broader healthcare expansion includes planned investments in new laboratory infrastructure, simulation and diagnostic equipment, flexible learning technology and financial support for students. These investments are intended to support the programs now in development while creating additional capacity to respond to future healthcare workforce needs.  

“This extraordinary gift gives Fleming important momentum as we work to expand healthcare education in areas where the need is clear and growing,” said Katie Pezoulas, Executive Director, Advancement and External Relations. “Meeting that need will require continued partnership among Fleming, government, healthcare organizations and donors, and this generous support is an important step forward.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.