Recognizing the immense, yet underutilized skills and talents that immigrant medical doctors (IMDs) and other internationally educated healthcare professionals (IEHPs) bring to Canada, the IMD Forum was established to address this issue. The Forum aims to help newcomer IMDs and IEHPs understand the Canadian healthcare system and the recertification processes for newcomer immigrant doctors. It aims to help these newcomer professionals uncover less obvious and hidden career possibilities beyond the traditional residency training pathways to a healthcare career.
The Forum is supported by expert professionals and healthcare and administrative leaders with clinical, academic and community experiences. We help clients reflect ad design more actionable plans to achieve success in finding a job in the healthcare sector as newcomers to Canada.
Terms Of Reference
1. Advocacy and Awareness
The IMD Forum under SCS is committed to advocating for integration of immigrant medical doctors in the Canadian healthcare system. We strive to raise awareness among relevant authorities, policymakers, and the public about the value of integrative cultural diversity in patient care services and intercultural education in medical teaching, learning and practice.
2. Support Services
The IMD Forum under SCS offers a range of support services, including mentorship programs, informational resources, and networking opportunities, to assist immigrant doctors in understanding alternative career paths within the Canadian healthcare sector. Our goal is to empower them to make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of recertification.
3. Collaboration with Stakeholders
The IMD Forum under SCS actively collaborates with stakeholders to utilize immigrant medical doctors' skills in residency positions and in alternative professional careers in healthcare and education. We support dialogues and conversations to address the systemic barriers immigrant doctors experience while advocating for more inclusive and streamlined integration processes.
4. Public and Scholarly Engagement
The IMD Forum works towards engaging immigrant medical professionals in public and scholarly conversations to promote understanding and appreciation of the contributions they can make to the healthcare system. We aim to dispel stereotypes and highlight the societal benefits of utilizing the skills of these professionals to address healthcare needs.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
The IMD Forum is committed to regularly assessing and improving our services to better supporting our clients as future healthcare professionals dedicated to supporting Canada's healthcare system and its global economy.
Immigrant Women Medical Doctors of Color Circle (IWMDCC)
This circle is established to empower immigrant women to find success through coaching and mentoring
We meet monthly to share personal and professional needs and successes, learn about academic and professional opportunities, prepare abstracts, conduct research, present at local and national conferences, workshops, webinars and as guest lectures in classroom.
Spotlight on Salma Amarin's Graduation
Read Salma's unique story as an accomplished immigrant doctor from Libya with four children, graduating with a Master's degree from the University of Toronto Institute of Medical Science (IMS) - Click here: IMS Graduate Spotlight: Salma Amarin | Institute of Medical Science (utoronto.ca)
Presentations and Conferences
IWMDCC - The Power of Networking by Maryam Musa, MD
Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Sociological association 57th conferenceMontreal, QuebeC - Ju
Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Sociological association 57th conferenceMontreal, QuebeC - Ju
Maryam shares how mentoring and coaching led to networking and professional and academic opportunities in the healthcare field and academia and how this space opens doors to unexpected opportunities. She encourages all to be strong, resilient and ask for help.
Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Sociological association 57th conferenceMontreal, QuebeC - Ju
Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Sociological association 57th conferenceMontreal, QuebeC - Ju
Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Sociological association 57th conferenceMontreal, QuebeC - Ju
Objectives: To address the critical need for human-centered teaching in residency education; explore utilization of immigrant doctors’ skills in preparing future family doctors for multicultural patient care, discuss theoretical and practical frameworks to bridge the gap between visible minority patients and physicians in primary care services.
Access Alliance - Immigrant Research Support Network
Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Sociological association 57th conferenceMontreal, QuebeC - Ju
Access Alliance - Immigrant Research Support Network
This session was designed to help participants prepare and follow their dream career path in Canada.
One attendee who had two interviews and was unsuccessful after two interviews in the first iteration, was successfully matched to a residency after participating in this session.
Family & Community Medicine Research Day - 2024
Humanities & Social Sciences Congress- Canadian Sociological Association 57th conference, Montreal J
Access Alliance - Immigrant Research Support Network
Objectives
Bring awareness why it is necessary to integrate IMGs in primary care services; conceptualize a non-clinical model for advancing equity in primary care; discuss win-win strategic funding approach.
Humanities & Social Sciences Congress- Canadian Sociological Association 57th conference, Montreal J
Humanities & Social Sciences Congress- Canadian Sociological Association 57th conference, Montreal J
Humanities & Social Sciences Congress- Canadian Sociological Association 57th conference, Montreal J
Presentation
Drs. Cindy Sinclair (PhD) and
Dr. Amir Salamat, MD, CCFP
"Looking Forward: Integrating Immigrant Medical Doctors in Supporting Equitable Healthcare"
Objectives
Share the urgent need for integrating immigrant medical doctors in human-centered and equitable health and well-being care during a desperate need or doctors in Canada.
IMMIGRANT WOMEN MEDICAL DOCTORS OF COLOR CIRCLE (IWMDCC)
Humanities & Social Sciences Congress- Canadian Sociological Association 57th conference, Montreal J
Humanities & Social Sciences Congress- Canadian Sociological Association 57th conference, Montreal J
With so much to be thankful for each year, Dr. Cindy Sinclair and the ambitious and inspiring members of the IWMDCC organize an annual luncheon with families and friends where we share stories and celebrate each person’s accomplishments, make memories, play games and laugh.
One-Stop-Shop for Psychiatry IMG Fellows - Orientation
One-Stop-Shop for Psychiatry IMG Fellows - Orientation
One-Stop-Shop for Psychiatry IMG Fellows - Orientation
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
(Re)thinking, Reflecting: Women, Migration and Work
One-Stop-Shop for Psychiatry IMG Fellows - Orientation
One-Stop-Shop for Psychiatry IMG Fellows - Orientation
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Leadership, Higher and Adult Education. University of Toronto
Guest Lecture: Women, Migration, and Work, Thursday, April 6, 2023
Dr. Cindy Sinclair, BA, MEd, PhD
Sociology & Social Justice Education & WKL
Adjunct Lecturer and EDI Research Advocate
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, U of T
Former U of T Staff,
Coach, Mentor
Chair, OISEAA Global Education & Diversity Committee
President, Sinclair Consulting
Co-presenters
Shynney Munar, MD Philippines
Maryam Musa, MD, Nigeria
Kawal Kaur, MD, India
Katryena Skoropad, MD, PhD, Ukraine
Natasha Shokri, P hD Student, Iran
Decolonizing and Anti-racism Workshop
One-Stop-Shop for Psychiatry IMG Fellows - Orientation
Professional Immigrant Women medical DOCTORS OF COLOR Circle (IWMDCC)
Breaking barriers and empowering immigrant women doctors
Cindy Sinclair, Shynney Munar, Kateryna Skoropad, Kawalpreet Kaur, Maryam Musa, Salma Amarin
Black/African Feminism Conference OISE, University of Toronto
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)
Professional Immigrant Women medical DOCTORS OF COLOR Circle (IWMDCC)
Professional Immigrant Women medical DOCTORS OF COLOR Circle (IWMDCC)
Professional Immigrant Women medical DOCTORS OF COLOR Circle (IWMDCC)
The IWMDCC comprises of a diverse group of immigrant women professionals. We meet monthly to share personal challenges and successes, learn together and explore career and life's opportunities in the wider world of healthcare and academia.
OUR MISSION: To inspire and empower each other through coaching, mentoring and personal support. We champion women's right, equity and inclusion as professional women in the healthcare workforce.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024
Professional Immigrant Women medical DOCTORS OF COLOR Circle (IWMDCC)
Immigrant Women Celebrate International Women's Day 2023
Tribute to EMILY STOWE – Champion of women’s right - 1st woman to practice medicine in Canada
The Immigrant Women Medical Doctors of Color Circle led by Dr. Cindy Sinclair
Immigrant Women Celebrate International Women's Day 2023
Professional Immigrant Women medical DOCTORS OF COLOR Circle (IWMDCC)
Immigrant Women Celebrate International Women's Day 2023
Unsung Stories with the Immigrant Women Medical Doctors of Color Circle.
Hosted by Dr. Cindy Sinclair, PHD
Together we call for gender equity, equal rights, and equal access to professional opportunities and leadership.
Success Story
Cindy Sinclair - 50 years at University of Toronto
Cindy Sinclair - 50 years at University of Toronto
The University of Toronto OISE Mentorship Series: Immigrant Medical Doctor's Mentorship story of Cindy Sinclair and Salma Siddiqui
Cindy Sinclair - 50 years at University of Toronto
Cindy Sinclair - 50 years at University of Toronto
Cindy Sinclair - 50 years at University of Toronto
Over 50 years and three degrees, U of T has had a tremendous impact on the life of Cindy Sinclair (BA 2005 WDW, MEd 2009, PhD 2017) — and that’s not even counting the engineering degrees earned by her husband and her three sons in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Celebrating Humans of Family Medicine
Cindy Sinclair - 50 years at University of Toronto
Celebrating Humans of Family Medicine
Cindy Sinclair, PhD, has spent decades supporting and empowering International Medical Graduates coming to U of T for postgraduate education, first as administrative staff and now as academic faculty.
Humans of DFCM—Cindy Sinclair | Department of Family & Community Medicine (utoronto.ca)
Professional Certifications
Professional Certifications
Celebrating Humans of Family Medicine
training and support for a variety of professional certifications, including PMP, CFA, and CPA. Our experienced instructors will help you prepare for the exam and achieve your certification.