The Division of General Internal Medicine got its start as the Internal Medicine Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in January 1979 by establishing consultant-level ambulatory care. Within 18 months it grew from 4 to 10 internists and 6 residents offering 24-hour coverage with the on-call schedule using a telephone answering service. Within the year it was also providing consultation services for inpatients in other departments.
The Montreal General Hospital Division was born in 1982 with 4 internists, with the status of “Division” being granted in 1984. Ten years later, the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Montreal General Hospital became part of the MUHC and the MUHC Division of General Internal Medicine was established.
The MUHC Division of General Internal Medicine has grown to be one of the largest divisions at the McGill University Health Centre and in Canada. It currently has 31 members.