By George Chimdi MBARA, PhD, Program Manager, Welcome Collaborative

With the increasing number of physicians trained outside of Canada (PTOCs) immigrating to Nova Scotia, the Welcome Collaborative physician orientation program was designed to provide a comprehensive orientation to set them up for success. The physicians’ orientation program was officially launched in 2023 to address the unique challenges faced by PTOCs, including differences in medical practices, cultural nuances, and understanding of the Canadian healthcare system. 

Sixty physicians trained outside of North America have participated in the orientation program, and the breakdown of the contingents is as follows: April – 20 physicians, June – 6 physicians, September – 18 physicians, and November/December – 16 physicians. 

The orientation session has been well received by physicians new to practising in Nova Scotia.

 “I went there a little reluctantly but ended up absolutely loving it. Great quality presentations and presenters. Really useful to understand how the health system works (including outside of your specialty). Sharing our experiences with other foreign-trained physicians was great and comforting. It is also great to see the College cares about us. It gave me more energy for the future.” 

(Physician Participant)

Welcome Collaborative continues to serve as a resource hub engaging community resources to address the concerns physicians and their families are experiencing as they settle into communities across the province. For example, the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) and Placemaking4G (an independent recruitment firm) are working collaboratively to help address the spousal employment challenges faced by our physicians.