The Welcome Collaborative is a 3-day orientation program which aims to support physicians who are trained outside of Canada (PTOCs) to successfully integrate into medical practice in Nova Scotia.

In 2024, the program welcomed 73 physicians, exceeding the program’s original estimate of 45.

Of the 73 physicians who participated in the program, 36 were family medicine specialists and 34 practiced in other specialties, including internal medicine, anesthesiology and psychiatry. Three participants are associate physicians who practice under a clinical assistant licence.

When physicians come to the Welcome Collaborative, most are issued a Defined licence, which is a time-limited licence that allows physicians to practise medicine under supervision while pursuing long-term licensure.

In 2024, 50 physicians on a Defined licence made up the majority of participants in the Welcome Collaborative program, while 17 physicians with a Full licence attended. This year the program invited physicians on an Academic and Clinical Assistant licence to participate, resulting in six such participants.