wanting to work in canada as a doctor

mark · #1

If you are interested in working in canada or have indeed worked there then feel free to tell us all about it.

baha76 · #2

Hi
I would love to go and work in Canada but i can't seem to find the right person to talk to about that. I even tried to e-mail few Canadian associations and councils but got no replies from them. Pretty disappointing. Last I heard they are desperate for Anaesthetists. The pay package is brilliant but the only disadvantage is that Canada is on he other side of the universe!! No seriously, the main disadvantage is that each county has got its own rules and regulations for working as a doctor! I also heard that in many cases it is much easier to start in the suburbs than starting in a city.

If you know anything about working in canada please let me know.

mark · #3

Canada and australia/NZ are desperate at the moment and the pay/relocation packages are more than generous.
What level of anaesthetist are you potentially going as and what sub speciality?
The reason i ask is that a friend of mine has recently been offered a consultant job in canada ( he did a year pain fellowship there). If its a consultant/fellowship post which it must be i can get him to post his story here which may be of some use to you.

I'll talk to him and see if i can get him to pass some tips on

regards
mark

baha76 · #4

thanks mark

Well, that would be of great help. I have contacted many people in Canada (by e-mail only I have to admit) including the royal college of surgeons, association of anaesthetist in Ottawa & Ontario generally but did not get a single reply from any!!
I'm not sure if they are ignoring the e-mails or they are not into contacting people by e-mails!
What I really want to know is who do I contact? or all i have to do is apply for jobs then hope for the best? do I need to do exams?
I really appreciate your help if possible. I'm not planning to make this move soon so no rush!!
Take care

mark · #5

A note from a colleague who has worked in canada. Hope this can be of some help.

Mark
Add this message to your forum.

Dear all
I am a Year-5 registrar and I recently returned from Canada after completion of my Fellowship in Pain and Regional Anaesthesia.

1. Getting a consultant job in Canada is possible either by a) direct appointment as consultant or b) by establishing contacts thro' fellowship.
2. Although Canada (desperately) needs more doctors their admission criteria is quite strict and tight and so not too easy.
3. To get appointed directly as a consultant, one should have good academic credentials and work experience. Very few doctors get through this route. Occasionally there are adverts (eg. June 2006 BJA from Halifax, Canada) for consultant posts. I heard that there are some 'stalls' in conferences held in UK where representatives from Canada give more details about this direct recruitment. Similarly, employment agency people from Canada (British Columbia) visit places like London and Birmingham to attract doctors to Canada. Keep your eyes and ears open.
4. The more common and reliable route is thro' fellowship. There is no single website that gives a comprehensive list of all the Universities in Canada providing fellowship. But the list of Universities in Canada is available in 'Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada' website. With the help of google search engine you can find the individual University details and the contact id of the fellowship co-ordinator / secretary (every institute has one). Then apply to them. Although not a rule, most fellowships start in July and the short listing process is over in the preceding October/November. The way I describe might sound complex, but is actually doable. I did it this way.
5. Of late, because of changes in job environment in UK more doctors invade Canada. Plan early.
6. If you are in early stage of your training - plan the year-4 as 'off-rotation training'. If you are in the verge of completing -plan it after CCT. The entire process can take solid 9-12 months.
7. Mostly the selection process is based on CV. At times (as in Toronto) they may invite for a personal interview.
8. Fellow's salary is 4000/-CAD to take home. This more than sufficient to lead a decent life (as long as you sort out your mortgage etc. in UK with your savings). As a consultant, it is about 300K CAD pa.
9. As long as you are sincere and reliable, most of the time the University management approaches the fellow to find their desire to continue as a consultant.
10. When you become a consultant you will get a restricted academic license. It is 'restricted' to that particular University. To get 'unrestricted' independent license - either you have to pass the exams (MCCEE, MCCQE - 2 parts and Royal College exam) or get promoted as associate professor (which is possible after 5 years depending on your academic performance.
11. Working and living in Canada is different from UK and is different in various provinces of Canada.
Any more details? post your doubts, if I know I shall answer.
Best wishes

dralister2110 · #6

Thank u Mark

I have completed my fellowship FCARCSI but am not on an SpR rotation. Is it possible to obtain a fellowship in cardiothoracic anaesthesia in Canada. Can anyone give more details on the requirements for a fellowship in Canada.

Regards

Alister

dr.walaa · #7

i would like to work in canda i want to be a good doctor so if u can help me inform me.iam female&i will finish my resedency in seuz canal university hospital in 30-6-2008

rajani · #8

Hi,I would love to work as an anesthetist in Canada.Unfortunately,since I only have an Indian degree & even though I've passed thMCCEE & MCCQE-1,& applied for innumerable fellowships to no avail.So,kindly let me know how can Indian degree holders get into their training programmes?

Dr Nael · #9

hello there , i'm a GP graduated from slovakia year 2000 , and i have been practicing the Family medicine since then in Arab countries , right now am workinh in Kuwait as a GP , i would like to work in Canada and do some Postgraduate at the same time , what is the possibility for me to go through a residency programme there in Canada ? And what are the criterias ? I would really be soo glad to get some answers from here ,since am planing to move to canda . Thank you all there