Dr. Alejandro Campos Munoz, a family medicine specialist, attended the March session of the Welcome Collaborative.

When Dr. Alejandro Campos Munoz arrived in Nova Scotia to begin practising family medicine, he expected some adjustments. What he didn’t expect was just how different the experience would feel even compared to working in the United States.

“I didn’t feel that the work-life balance in the U.S. was good enough,” says Dr. Campos Munoz, reflecting on his decision to leave Chicago.

A conversation with recruiters from Nova Scotia at a conference influenced his decision to move to the province. He thought the transition would be very simple and smooth, including work flexibility and manageable hours. But once he arrived, the realities of adapting to a new health-care system quickly set in.

“I was under the impression that Canada and the U.S. would share a lot of similarities,” says Dr. Campos Munoz. Instead, he encountered unexpected differences from medication names to vaccine schedules. “I was shocked. I was feeling like a first-year resident in their first week.”

Navigating systems, accessing patient information, and understanding workflows presented early challenges. “I know what to do, but I don’t know how to do it,” he explained, describing the steep learning curve.

The Welcome Collaborative helped improve Dr. Campos Munoz’s experience.

“Having folks that are experiencing the same challenges as I am, I think that was the most useful thing,” says Dr. Campos Munoz. “I was like, okay, I’m not the only one.”

Through the program, hearing from others, especially physicians who had recently gone through similar transitions made a meaningful difference. “You get motivated like I could be him in one year,” he said of session facilitators who are also internationally trained physicians.

Looking back, Dr. Campos Munoz emphasizes patience and openness as key advice for others. “Start slow. Don’t rush to learn the system in one day it will take time,” he says. “And Canadians are very friendly, so just ask for help.”

He believes programs like the Welcome Collaborative are essential not only for internationally trained physicians, but for anyone new to practising in Nova Scotia.

“It is a very well-structured orientation course, I felt that it was worth it,” he says.

For Dr. Campos Munoz, the experience is about more than professional adjustment, it’s about building confidence, community, and ultimately, delivering the best care possible.