June participants — Back row from left: Dr. Wu, Dr. Bopearatchy, Dr. Omosebi, Dr. Noghabaei, Dr. Jones, Dr. Ghaleh Navi
Middle row from left: Mr. Chimdi Mbara (Program Manager, Welcome Collaborative), Dr. Javed, Dr. Saka, Dr. Faruqi, Dr. Ghaffar, Dr. Paterson, Dr. Haris, Dr. Pepler
Front row from left: Dr. Yusuf, Dr. Iskra, Dr. Grant (Registrar & CEO, CPSNS), Dr. Abdelmaksoud, Dr. Khalid, Beshoy Zaky (Lead, Welcome Collaborative)
(Dr. Cajee is absent from the photo.)

In June, 18 physicians attended the 4-day Welcome Collaborative orientation at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

The Welcome Collaborative supports physicians trained outside of Canada to better understand the Nova Scotia healthcare system and to settle into their new places of practice.

Of the participating physicians, 10 hold a Full licence, and two hold a Clinical Assessment licence. The remaining six have been issued a Defined licence and, as such, are under supervision on a pathway to independent licensure.

Dr. Irma Faruqi, a specialist in emergency medicine, at the June session of the Welcome Collaborative.

This physician cohort included physicians in the following specialties: 11 in family medicine, two in internal medicine, one in psychiatry, one in emergency medicine, one in general surgery, one in medical oncology, and one in pediatrics.

The Welcome Collaborative program is the first of its kind in Canada designed to support internationally trained physicians integrate into the healthcare landscape in Nova Scotia.  

The next Welcome Collaborative takes place September 9–12, 2025 at the College.

For more information contact: welcomecollaborative@cpsns.ns.ca or visit the program’s website at: welcomecollaborative.ca.