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 support newcomer IMDs and IEHPs in the effort of discovering wider opportunities in the healthcare field beyond the traditional residency training.
The goals of the IMD Forum include listening and understanding the goals of immigrant healthcare professionals, offering a platform to learn about new and hidden opportunities in the healthcare workforce, providing coaching and mentoring, and facilitating their integration into the wider healthcare workforce.
The Forum is supported by expert professionals, healthcare, and administrative leaders with clinical, academic and community experiences, in a space that provides opportunities to explore the broader scopes in the healthcare field with an emphasis on providing equitable integration of immigrant healthcare professionals into the Canadian healthcare workforce and equitable primary care services to Canada's vastly diverse and multi-ethnic population.
The IMD Forum under SCS is committed to advocating for systemic changes in the licensing process for immigrant doctors in Canada. We strive to raise awareness among relevant authorities, policymakers, and the public about the challenges faced by immigrant medical professionals and the potential societal benefits of their integration into the healthcare workforce.
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.
The IMD Forum under SCS actively collaborates with stakeholders to create pathways for immigrant doctors to obtain licensure or other alternative professional healthcare and education enrichment. We foster dialogue and education to address systemic barriers and facilitate a more inclusive and streamlined process.
Recognizing that the traditional licensure pathway may not be feasible for all immigrant doctors, the IMD Forum encourages and supports exploration of innovative career paths to keep foreign doctors in the professional field of medicine if this is where their passion lies. We create a supportive environment where individuals can share experiences to help others, and their challenges, and successes.
The IMD Forum works towards engaging immigrant medical professionals in public and scholarly conversations to promote understanding and appreciation for the contributions 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.
The IMD Forum is committed to continuous improvement. We regularly assess the impact of our services, gather feedback from participants, and adjust our strategies to better meet the evolving needs of immigrant medical doctors.
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.
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)
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
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
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)
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.
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
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.
The University of Toronto OISE Mentorship Series: Immigrant Medical Doctor's Mentorship story of Cindy Sinclair and Salma Siddiqui
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
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)
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.
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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