Dr. Tulay Yigit, family physician, attending the March session of the Welcome Collaborate at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

The Welcome Collaborative is a 4-day orientation program which aims to support internationally trained physicians to successfully integrate into medical practice in Nova Scotia. Over the last two years, 133 physicians trained outside of Canada have attended the orientation program, including 73 physicians in 2024, exceeding the program’s original estimate of 45 for that year.

The orientation program is continuously evolving based on feedback from participants, presenters, and guest speakers. In response to this invaluable feedback the Welcome Collaborative orientation session is expanding to four days adding a day for family physicians participants.

The decision to extend the orientation to four days was driven by participants’ feedback identifying the need to offer more in-depth training and support for family physicians. Feedback from previous participants highlighted the importance of dedicating more time to critical topics, allowing for a more robust discussion, opportunities to connect with other physicians and strengthen their knowledge of how best to navigate the many facets of the healthcare system.

The Welcome Collaborative’s commitment to enhancing the orientation experience reflects its dedication to supporting physicians in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care that will allow physicians to better serve their communities.

Based on physicians’ feedback, new sessions focus on topics such as: Caring for Mental Health Patients, Frailty & Dignity of Risk, Caring for Indigenous Patients, Continuing Care, Receiving Feedback, and Caring for African Nova Scotian Patients. These additions are designed to equip physicians with the necessary skills and knowledge to better serve diverse patient populations and address specific health challenges in Nova Scotia.

The new session focusing on mental healthcare for patients aims to strengthen physician communication, enhance skills to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, and promote patient-centered care.

The Fragility & Dignity of Risk session will focus on expanding the understanding and awareness of the concepts of fragility, dignity and risk when caring for patients such as older adults living with dementia.

A Continuing Care session is another addition to the orientation, allowing participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the continuing care system in Nova Scotia. Participants will learn to recognize the common barriers that patients may face when trying to access continuing care services and help develop strategies to assist their patients in navigating continuing care.

The session on Caring for African Nova Scotian Patients will address the unique health challenges faced by African Nova Scotians and aims to provide an understanding of the history of African Nova Scotians.

The Welcome Collaborative’s commitment to enhancing the orientation experience reflects its dedication to supporting physicians in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care that will allow physicians to better serve their communities.