Grant: Operating Grant

Each year, hundreds of international medical graduates (IMG) come to Canada with the hopes of practicing medicine. However, many IMG are unable to meet the various entry-to-practice milestones. Although often recruited to fill positions in underserved communities (generally on provisional or temporary licenses), few IMG remain in these communities particularly after they obtain full licenses. The IMG population includes a growing number of physicians who were Canadian citizens or permanent residents before entering medical school (known as Canadians who studied abroad, CSA). There has been increasing pressure, especially from CSA and their parents, to accommodate CSA by providing post-graduate training spots for them, thereby enabling them to obtain full licensure. Given their prior links to Canada, it is not clear whether CSA share similar patterns of obtaining entry-to-practice milestone and retention as other IMG. This study will use data from the National IMG Database to compare the rates of success of CSA and other IMG in obtaining entry-to-practice milestones. We will also compare the retention patterns of CSA and other IMG. We will conduct detailed interviews with CSA to understand their experiences and expectations as they navigate entry-to-practice-milestones. We will also interview directors of clinical assessment and post-graduate training programs to understand the directors' perceptions of CSA skills and expectations. The study will provide a better understanding of the factors related to the entry of CSA and other IMG into the physician workforce and to their migration patterns after entering the physician workforce.