First group of internationally trained family doctors already making a difference in northern Ontario

With doctor shortages across the country, Ontario is tapping into the availability of internationally trained family physicians to solve part of the health care crisis.

And northern communities are starting to see the benefits of the Practice-Ready Ontario Program with an influx of new and accredited health care providers.

Out of a cohort of 30 candidates across the province, Sudbury was able to recruit four physicians.

"We're just ecstatic of the successes of this program," said Ryan Humeniuk, a physician recruiter for the city.

"And, in fact, for the second cohort, there was 12 candidates across the entire province, 44 sites competing and we actually secured five."

He has worked as a physician recruiter for the City of Greater Sudbury since 2007.

When he first started, he said the largest family physician demographic had 30+ years in practice while the largest demographic today has under 10 years in practice.

Humeniuk said the Practice-Ready program and especially the addition of NOSM University have been game changers for recruiting.

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"Previous to NOSM, we would travel to the southern Ontario medical schools and really market our community using a brochure," he said.

"You're in an auditorium with 200 other communities and you're hoping that you have that chance discussion with a learner."

Physician recruiters can now build relationships with the future doctors while they're here in medical school for their training.

Humeniuk said 12 doctors were recruited in 2024, however, the city is actively looking for another dozen as it sees an average of three to four physicians retiring every year.

In total, Humeniuk said the city currently has 128 family physicians.

New local family doctors

Dr. Mohammad Uddin and his wife Dr. Farzana Rahman are two of three doctors at Boreal Family Medicine in Sudbury who are part of the Practice-Ready Ontario program.

Dr. Mohammad Uddin and his wife Dr. Farzana Rahman are two internationally-trained family doctors practicing in Sudbury thanks to the Practice-Ready Ontario Program. December 12, 2024 (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV Northern Ontario)

"When we first knew about it, we were having our recency of our currency of practice in Bangladesh. So, me and my wife both instantly applied for it," Uddin said.

The husband and wife said many of the patients they have seen so far have been without a family doctor for upwards of five years.

"We are called the IMGs (International Medical Graduates) and that means that we have passed abroad. We had our trainings and experiences abroad, and now many of the IMGs are waiting for joining in the clinical field as family physicians or specialists in Canada," Uddin said.

"There are many red tapes and there are many steps to cross. So, if the government by any chance can cut short all those steps while not compromising with the quality, then that would be better for many IMGs and it would be better for both sides (the doctors and the communities)."

New doctor on Manitoulin Island

Meantime on Manitoulin Island, Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane said it has only been a few weeks since the town's new physician -- who was trained in Pakistan -- joined the local practice but added its already making a difference.

"Our doctors do service all of western Manitoulin, which includes the two First Nation reserves … so they have a very busy practice," Lane said.

"And like most doctors offices anywhere … waiting times have become a bit longer because of that. And so now all of a sudden, with the addition of Dr. Talib, that's starting to get better. So people are able to call and get an appointment on a more timely basis."

The mayor said the ministry recently upped the town's allocation of doctors from two to five.

Committed for three years

He said they are hopeful another candidate will be interested through the program.

As part of the Practice-Ready program, physicians must work under supervision for two years and are required to stay and work in the location they choose for a minimum of three years.

Dr. Uddin and his wife said they hope to stay longer than that.