Standing from left: Dr. Bakhit, Dr. Akinduro, Dr. Finegan, Dr. Asanbe, Dr. Cavaghan, Dr. Odewale, Dr. Andeyaba, Dr. Szekeres, Dr. Aboghanem, Dr. Nichols, Dr. Walsh, Dr. Groenewald, Dr. Dladla, Dr. Mitchell, Dr. Varga

Seated from left: Dr. Khoshagozaran, Dr. Salem, Dr. Grant, Dr. Imafidon-Victor, Dr. Hamadeh

Missing from photo: Dr. Joubert, Dr. Hashim

In January, 21 physicians new to practising in Nova Scotia participated in the Welcome Collaborative orientation program at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. The program supports physicians trained outside of North America to better understand the Nova Scotia health-care system and to settle into their new places of practice.

This physician cohort included physicians in the following specialties: 13 in family medicine, four in emergency medicine, three in internal medicine, and one in obstetrics and gynecology.

Dr. Khoshagozaran, a emergency medicine specialist, participated in the January session of the Welcome Collaborative.

Nine of the physicians hold a Full licence. The remaining 12 have been issued a Defined licence and, as such, are under supervision on a pathway to independent licensure.

The Welcome Collaborative program, designed to support internationally trained physicians to integrate into the health-care landscape in Nova Scotia, is funded by the government of Nova Scotia and is the first of its kind in Canada.

The next Welcome Collaborative takes place March 23 – 27, 2026 at the College and Dalhousie University.

For more information, email welcomecollaborative@cpsns.ns.ca or visit welcomecollaborative.ca.