Welcome to Canada

1
Welcome to Canada?

• IMGs in Canadian Medical Workforce
• Ludek Podhradsky, M.D.

2
My background

• - graduated in 1998 from Charles U in Prague,
  Czech Republic
• - residency training in anesthesia for 12 months
• - left my home country for Canada at
• the end of 1998
• - landed in Vancouver BC

3
Welcome???

• - there are virtually no training positions
  available
• (free quotation from MCCEE brochure 1998/99)
• - encounters with the college in BC
• - sent applications for observership
• - St. Pauls Hospital (was refused)
• - BC Childrens (accepted after 7 months)
• - overall very unfriendly atmosphere,
  unwillingness to give any information or direction

4
Ordeal

• - my goal finding jobs related to medicine and
  prepare for my exams (find balance between
  having some income and at the same time be able
  to prepare for upcoming exams)
• - worked in various jobs and positions
• 1/naturopathic office
• - passed MCCEE in 09/99
• 2/MOA after one month became unemployed
• - passed TOEFL in 12/99
• 3/volunteering in research (RA)
• - unemployed, living on bank loan
• - match in 03/00 no success
• - passed MCCQE I 05/00

5
Research

• 4/COPD, asthma studies breakthrough
• - sufficient income and at the same
  
• having contact with medicine
• - earned educational license for BC
• - applied for a position in BC IMG
  program, St. Pauls Hospital and did not get
  through the first round due to my scores in MCCQE
  1

6
Victory

• CaRMS match 03/2001
• - position in FM RAS with U of C
• - 27 months after arrival to Canada
• - 17 months after being granted landed
• immigrant status

7
Obstacles

• 1. English language, medical terminology
• - this applies to IMGs whose medical
  education
• was not taught in English
• 2. Cultural shock
• 3. Multiple choice exams
• - do results reflect real quality of
  an IMG?
• - learning how to approach these
  exams is
• actually a major part of preparing
  for them
• 4. - ability to pay for exams and to cover
  living expenses can be a serious issue in many of
  IMGs
• 5. Knowledge of the process
• - know-how to get in
• - there should be more information
  on what
• educational options IMG has
  (observership, traineeship, medical
  research etc.)

8
Three Commandments

• If you want to enter residency program in Canada
• 1/ Meet the right people
• - e.g. IMGs who are IN, find mentor
  who can give you tips on where to apply for a
  job, how to prepare for multiple choice exams
  etc.
• 2/ Familiarize thyself with the process
• - know what educational options you have
• - look at differences in approaching IMGs
  in
• all provinces in Canada
• 2/ Work on overcoming obstacles
• 3/ Be
• -patient
• -persistent
• -assertive
• and you will win!