Issue 4: December 2022
Orientation Sessions for Physicians Trained Outside of Canada
Dr. Omorede Osayande, Dr. Manal Elmiladi, Dr. Michael Fatokun,
Dr. Chizoma Osemwegie, Dr. Gus Grant, Laura Avery,
Dr. Olusola Ojo, Dr. Adeolu Akinboro, Dr. Ama Asiedu
In October, the first offering of a new orientation program for physicians trained outside of Canada (PTOCs) was held at the College. The orientation session included three full days of in-person education and training for a cohort of physicians on a Defined licence participating in the new pathway for long-term licensure.
The goal of the program is to address gaps identified in the onboarding of physicians not trained within the Canadian healthcare system context. The sessions aim to support physicians as they integrate into medical practice in Nova Scotia. Topics include identifying, acknowledging, and overcoming barriers to practice in Nova Scotia, medical record-keeping, MSI billing, communication skills training, and settlement resources for PTOCs and their families.
It was a great opportunity to network and gain new knowledge.
– Participant
Eight family medicine physicians participated. They practice in Arichat, Dartmouth, Halifax, Middleton, New Glasgow, and Shelburne. They are from Nigeria, Ghana, Libya, and the UK.
Presenters included representatives from the College, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), Doctors Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program, Nova Scotia Health, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and Dalhousie Medicine Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education (CPDME). Representatives from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment and other speakers networked with the group and share their experiences.