McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, has announced a $46 million (C$50 million) gift from Michael G. DeGroote for its School of Medicine.

Named in recognition of a $105 million gift from the philanthropist in 2003 — still the largest single cash gift to an institution in Canadian history — the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine will use the funds to strengthen ties and create future partnerships with the DeGroote School of Business and the Faculty of Engineering. John Kelton, dean of the School of Medicine, told the Hamilton Spectator the university plans to use 20 percent of the gift to foster biomedical engineering advances and another 20 percent to establish an MD/MBA program for national and international healthcare leaders, with the remainder providing "seed money" to help research scientists develop projects that can be commercialized and create jobs in Hamilton.

The Belgium-born DeGroote emigrated to Canada at the age of 14, left high school to work in the tobacco fields, and later made his fortune by expanding Hamilton-based Laidlaw Transport Ltd. into the largest school bus operator and  third-largest waste management company in North America.

"[DeGroote's] commitment to helping create doctors who provide the most innovative, compassionate and evidence-based treatment is unparalleled," said Kelton. "His investments have seen our medical school become one of the top fifteen in the world and the $50 million announced today will allow McMaster to climb to even greater heights."