Highly educated and experienced medical doctors immigrate to Canada every year with great enthusiasm to work as doctors and help fill the doctor-shortage need that leave more than five million people in Canada with no access to a family doctor. Quickly they discover that the pathway for a license to practice medicine is bleak and almost non-existent. While many struggles for years preparing for exams and hoping that they will eventually succeed, others give up and settle for underemployed jobs and never able to return to their professional career or identity. This is sad. It is a huge waste of human resources, talents, education and hard-earned money. It is a social injustice to the sick facing life-threatening illnesses while fully trained doctors are driving taxis, serving coffee and working in other meanial jobs unrelated to the educaion and training.
In 2015, Dr. Cindy Sinclair, Dr. Rashida Haq and Dr. Njoki Wane founded the Immigrant Medical Doctors (IMD) Forum. The purpose of the Forum was to provide a space for IMDs to gather and learn about the intricacies and challenges of the re-licensure process, learn about the real-life experience of medical residents and practicing physicians, learn about what other non-clinical jobs and education possibilities may be pursued as an alternative to medical practice. but at the professional level. The goal of the IMD Forum was to inspire newcomer IMDs and other internationally educated healthcare professionals (IEHPs) to explore other related career paths with confidence if recertification opportunities for a license is not forthcoming.
The IMD Forum also provides a space for other Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHPs). This includes pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists, scientists, nurses and healthcare specialists. It provides a space for IEHPs and IMDs to meet with leaders, educators and consultants, to learn about other alternative and second-career options in healthcare fields and connect and network with experienced professionals.
VISION: Re-imagine utilization of international skills, talents and cultural knowledge in the delivery of compassionate and accessible health and well-being care for all people, regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, identity or social status.
MISSION: Integrate foreign trained immigrant healthcare professionals in the Canadian healthcare system, society and communities of care.
IMD TEAM includes: Cindy Sinclair, Rashida Haq, Njoki Wane, Rebecca Wong, Umberin Najeeb, Arno Kumagai, other University of Toronto Faculty, community leaders, Amy Wong and two IMDs, Pauline Gulasingam and Mihai Csaki.
Shynney Marie V. Munar, MD, FPPA, Psychiatry
Clinical Fellow, Area of Focused Competence in Addictions
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
CAMH, Department of Psychiatry
University of Toronto
Postgraduate Medical Education Leadership Certificate Program, University of Toronto
Donald Wasylenki Education Day 2023 - Academic Half Day Poster: A Roadmap for International Medical Doctors: Psychiatry Residency and Fellowship Programs | Donald Wasylenki Education Day (epostersonline.com)
Project Presentation: One-stop-shop for Psychiatry IMG Fellows: Orientation Needs
CAMH: Office of Health Equity: Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health | CAMH
The University of Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Mentorship Series:
Immigrant Medical Doctor's Mentorship story:
The University of Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Mentorship Series:
Immigrant Medical Doctor's Mentorship story:
Salma Siddiqui, Zanat Ferdous, Mithila Orin, Alizay Javed, Maryam Musa, Salma Amarin, Tobi Adelabu. Hibah, Sidat, Giti Zare, Kawalpreet Kaur
Natasha Shokri
Shynney Munar
Kateryna Skoropod
Black/African Feminism Conference Book Chapter (in progress)
"De-skilling of Immigrant Women Doctors in Canadian Healthcare System and Beyond"
(Cindy Sinclair,
Mary Musa, Salma Siddiqui)
Research
Why Engage Medical Residents in Humanism Conversations?
Cindy Sinclair, Kawalpreet Kaur
Achieving Health Equity Through Radical Leadership
(Maryam Musa, Cindy Sinclair,
Salma Amarin)
Cindy has important insights into the complicated lives of many students. She knows what it means to negotiate formidable obstacles and to juggle conflicting responsibilities, expectations, and deadlines
I am happy to announce my first milestone in Canada. I am accepted into the Master's Program in Higher Education at the University of Toronto. My deepest gratitude to Dr. Cindy. Salma S.
Lack of confidence, weak knowledge of career options, limitations of preparatory tools are some of the major obstacles of International Medical Graduates coming to Canada.
A "hero" in their own land is made to feel a "zero" within months of their arrival, by the multiple mandatory licensing steps, that entails not only an unguaranteed wait times but also huge financial investments.
Cindy Sinclair and her team has proven to be the ‘savior’ to the IMG's. I met Cindy at a workshop at Access and that has been a turning point in my vision.
Today, I am a Postdoctoral Fellow at Sunnybrook Hospital and I am proud to share my success with my mentor Cindy. She has consistently guided me and ensured that I reach my goal.
Cindy showed interest not only in my career development but in other areas of my life and in me as a person. She provided the right tools, network and learning from her own experiences that really made a big difference. She helped me build my confidence and taught me how to remain positive at all times. Always a smile on her face and the level of commitment she invests are the thigs that I would be forever grateful." Zanat F.
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