[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/healthcampusrendering.jpg” caption=”Preliminary conceptual rendering of the proposed McMaster Health Campus in downtown Hamilton. “]McMaster's plan for its downtown Health Campus took a significant step forward when
Hamilton councillors approved a $20 million investment in the project and agreed to
locate some of the City's Public Health services and clinics at the site.

“This is a significant project for Hamilton and McMaster and we are very pleased with
the City's investment and partnership,” said McMaster President Patrick Deane. “For
many years McMaster and the City have worked to expand the University's presence in
the core and with this Campus, our beachhead in downtown is strengthened.”

During a meeting of the City's General Issues Committee where the Campus plan was
approved, Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina said the Campus represents a significant
milestone for Hamilton.

“This is our finest hour,” the Mayor said. “We will take pride years from now that we've
made this happen.”

The McMaster Health Campus will be a hub for students, teaching, patient care and
research. The Campus will allow up to 15,000 Hamiltonians from across the city now
without a doctor to have a family physician. It will see up to 54,000 patient visits every
year and bring 4,000 McMaster students downtown to participate in classes, training
and events. The Campus will be home to 450 McMaster employees and create 650 jobs
during design and construction.

The Department of Family Medicine of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine will
be located at the Campus. In addition, McMaster's continuing health sciences education
program and the nurse practitioner program will be based at the site. The Maternity
Centre of Hamilton, Shelter Health Network and several major research programs will
also be located there.

The University is continuing its discussions with the Hamilton Wentworth District School
Board to acquire a site at the corner of Main and Bay streets, the proposed location of
the Health Campus.

Councillors' approval of the locating some of the City's public health services at the
campus will provide efficiencies, while providing increased access to care and higher
quality service.

“The McMaster Health Campus will help the City create healthy neighbourhoods,
increase access to quality health care for people from across Hamilton and will create
pride within the community. This is a powerful and important investment in our future,”
said John Kelton, dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and vice-
president, health sciences of McMaster University.