One of the major challenges in migrating to Canada with your PR as a skilled worker is transitioning and transferring your skills to match the needs and requirements of the local workforce. Once of buggiest hurdles in completing this transition is faced by international medical graduates (IMG) also known as internationally-trained doctors or doctors trained abroad. While Canada has a great shortage of medical doctors, particularly family doctors (Primary Health Care Providers), the process of acquiring the licensure locally can be challenging for newly landed immigrants.

There is a long list of exams and requalifications to complete, including taking exams with the MCC to get the MCCQE (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam), becoming a LMCC (Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada), and even writing the NAC (National Assessment Collaboration) exam. Many IMGs await opportunities to get into a residency program of their choice and in their preferred locations for many years.

More and more IMGs who are moving to Canada are choosing to work in and get valuable clinical and research experience by working in clinical research roles. This, along with other strategies such as completing a thesis-based Master’s program, working clinically under a physician at a clinic, etc are all being increasingly used as ways to improve chances of being selected into competitive residency programs. However, that isn’t the only reason IMGs are doing this. Many IMGs are choosing to permanently move into a lucrative career in Clinical Research.

In this video, I have discussed some of the best ways that IMGs can transition into a role in Clinical Research in the Canadian job market. As always, I speak from my own experiences based on what I have witnessed many colleagues and friends do – who have arrived as IMGs to Canada and then temporarily or permanently moved into a role in Clinical Research. For transparency, I always try to mention both the positive and the negative side of these career decisions, and I consult my friends and coworkers in this field to arrive at my conclusions. I hope only to be able to help others by sharing what I have learned through my experience. Good luck!

Content:

Part 1: Why do IMGs and why SHOULD IMGs move into Clinical Research

Part 2: How to transition from medicine to clinical research in Canada/USA

Part 3: Long term career opportunities for internationally trained physicians in Clinical Research in Canada / USA