Since its launch as a pilot program in 2022, the Welcome Collaborative has aimed to do more than orient new physicians—it strives to create a true starting point for their life and work in the province. The program blends practical sessions on the Canadian medical landscape with the human realities of transitioning to a new country. This dual focus has become a defining feature of the five-day orientation program.  The evolution of the program continues to be significantly shaped by participant insight and feedback.

“There’s been considerable evolution in content at the Welcome Collaborative,” reflects Dr. Gus Grant, Registrar and CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. His observation captures the essence of a program that has become an essential bridge for internationally trained physicians entering practice in Nova Scotia.

Dr. Grant credits the physicians themselves for driving meaningful change. “We’ve had meaningful feedback—not, checkbox feedback, but substantive feedback,” he says. That feedback has led to improvements in curriculum, strengthening sessions on informed consent, conflict of interest, conscientious objection, and medical assistance in dying—topics that often differ greatly from medical practice abroad.

Beyond clinical skills, the Welcome Collaborative acts as a connector—linking new physicians with community supports, partner organizations, and each other. Dr. Grant notes the importance of building this sense of belonging early. “I hope they take away a sense that they’re not on this journey alone. It’s really rewarding when you see physicians making connections and enjoying each other’s company,” he says.

Looking ahead, the Welcome Collaborative’s direction will continue to be guided by the very people it serves. “There is no rigid plan for future changes, only an openness to evolve as recruitment patterns and participant needs shift,” says Dr. Grant.

In many ways, that flexibility has become the Welcome Collaborative’s strength. It is not a static orientation—it is a living, responsive, community‑driven program. And for new physicians finding their footing in Nova Scotia, it remains one of the first places where they experience what Dr. Grant describes as a “warm energy coming from Nova Scotia to help them be set up for success.”