Medical career path for a new IMG/IMD

[Rossei]

I'm re-posting a topic here (which doesn't directly relate to Immigration) upon a senior member's advice.

My wife has recently immigrated to Canada and looking for medical opportunities. She passed MBBS (Bachelor in Medicine & Surgery), a 5-year medical program in 2009 from Bangladesh; finished 1-year mandatory internship/residency in 2010 and worked as a Medical Officer in Gynaecology & Obctetrics department of a medical hospital till she came here. I'm very much aware that it will be extremely hard for her to qualify as a Doctor in Canada. Some even say that it's close to impossible. Yet, I'm trying to do best for her and hence asking your advice:

[1] Passing from a common-wealth country, she doesn't have an MD degree rather has a Bachelor degree in medicine. Are these two equivalent? Her medical school is WHO/ FAIMER approved.

[2] In order to be accepted into Residency Programs, does she have to have at least one [1] year of continuous medical practice within the previous four years? Does it have to be within Canada? I really don't get this part. Refer to QORAX's post (http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t37491.0.html).

[3] As a new IMG, will she get any advantage competing with other IMG/IMDs for a residency after passing MCCEE and MCCQE-1? I heard that fresh graduates are prefered over experienced foreign doctors.

[4] Is it true that even after completing a 2/4 year long residency, it's hard to find a job?

[5] Is it more practical to choose Family Physician stream over Specialist stream to get into residency program?

[6] What are other opportunities that she can consider? I know that she can go to school for MPH degree/ radiologist/ health science degree/ nursing. But when you are sacrificing your dream of practicing medical; the alternate has to be even more practical.

[7] AIPSO (http://aipso.webs.com/) states that more than 95% of the IMD's remain unemployed (not matched by CAIPS for residency) each year. I heard that more IMG's are getting opportunities now in residency program compared to last few years. Is it all a lie?

[8] What are the organizations/facilities that she can go in GTA to get useful ino/assistance in order to pursue a medical career here? I know about CEHPEA and AIPSO. Is there something else?

[9] Is it a better idea to do USMLE instead of trying for Canadian certification? I personally don't have a plan to move to USA; but we are considering this since my primary work location is at Sarnia, a border city in Western Ontario.

I will really appreciate if IMG/IMD around Ontario put their valuable thoughts here. Only good thing about my wife is that she doesn't have to worry about alternate way of income during her prep time for these exams. As my job allows me to move around the province of Ontario, I will be able to relocate within Ontario once she gets residency and practices under-served areas (obviously if she ever qualifies).

Thanks in advance.

PS: I apologize for any wrong info/term as I'm not in medical profession.

 

[Pippin]

I wonder if an organization like the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons might be able to give you some guidance? http://www.cpso.on.ca/
It seems we hear about doctor shortages daily in the Canadian media. Your questions are excellent and I wish you both good luck in finding the answers you need.

 

[devilhimselff]

What I have gathered, is that, for Doctors the situation is pretty grim. I am still working on checking the situation and will off course go and meet folks (doctors etc) and see where they stand. But from what Ive been reading, its a dead end. May be there are going to be 1 or 2 % folks who made it through, but, that will not inspire confidence in the one's who are immigrating.

Anyways, I will keep an eye on this thread for more updated info. Thanks for starting the thread, I was waiting till my Passport Request and then to start such a thread

 

[Rossei]

Thanks Pippin and devilhimselff for being interested. I hope that this thread becomes a useful one.

I actually opened a similar thread in Finding Work in Canada section and anilch recommended some answers to my questions. I'm pasting those here:

[1] Not at all a problem.

[3] It is true.

[4] In Ontario, there Is some return of service agreement after completing residency.So after doing 4 years residency, doctors are required to serve for some period with the government, ofcourse with salary.It will be tough to enter into residency.But after residency, there won't be a problem.At least, one can get a job in under served areas.If one completes USMLE's and clears american board exams at the end,they can even practice in USA with canadian residency.

[5] Family physicians have more flexiblity. I think they will have more job opportunities.More seats in residency than others. Easy to get compared to other residencies.

[7] It is true most IMD's remain unemployed. But being a fresh medical graduate is always a advantage. Good scores with some good recommendation letters locally(if Possible) will help.http://www.carms.ca/eng/index.shtml this website might give information on number of residency positions. Rules in various provinces of canada.

 

[docpak]

its great topic indeed, we all need help in this regard but only a person who has passed thru all these can guide us all....situation is hard no doubt, a senior of mine a 2007 graduate did MCCEE n QE2 but she is nt hopeful to match residency, so she decided to write USMLE steps n now she jst cleared step 2.....its haunting indeed to anticipate to be in this tough situation after nerve breaking study of MBBS....INSHAllah will post if found anything valuable enough to share....

can some one tell me that to do MPH/health science/nursing/radiology etc,is there some prerequisition of GRE???as i heard that to get admission in canadian universities one has to clear the GRE? will b thankful if some one can reply....
hopefully situation will improve for doctors in near future....
best of luck to all

docpak

 

[Rossei]

I found from an IMG (another forum) who has recently got residency at Queen's Universuty that the following are very important in terms of placement:

• Observeship (he did for 3 months)
• Paid - Personal Assistanceship (he did it for a year)
• Letter of Recommendation # 3 (he managed these from all major universities of Ontario)

He did not score very high in the tests, rather was average. But getting all these 3 isn't easy at all. There are few doctors that are interested in giving you an observeship even though it's free let alone giving you a paid PA job (according to him).