Episode Notes

Navigating the Path: International Medical Graduates in Canada

Guest: Dr. Mariana da Silva Jardim, Vice-Chair, Internationally Trained Physicians of Ontario (ITPO).

Key Discussion Points:

1. Understanding Canadian Healthcare Roles

• Unique aspects of Canadian healthcare system

1. Pathways to Practice

• Focus on utilizing physicians already in Canada

1. System Navigation Challenges

• Cultural differences in application process

1. Alternative Pathways

• Clinical Assistant role in Manitoba as an example

1. Support Systems

• Mental health challenges during the process

Notable Quotes:

• "It's not about skills but about knowing how to work inside the system"

Key Takeaways:

1. Current system has limited pathways for international physicians

About Our Guest:

Dr. da Silva Jardim brings both personal experience and professional expertise to this discussion. As someone who has successfully navigated the path from international medical graduate to practicing family physician in Canada, she now helps others through her role at ITPO. Her journey from Brazil to becoming a chief resident at the University of Toronto offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for internationally trained physicians in Canada.

Resources Mentioned:

• International Trained Physicians of Ontario

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• International Trained Physicians of Ontario (ITPO): www.itpo.ca

• Direct support and advocacy for internationally trained physicians in Ontario and across Canada

• Resources and support for international medical graduates in Alberta

• National organization supporting internationally trained physicians

Additional Resources Discussed:

• Manitoba Clinical Assistant Program

Contact Information: For direct inquiries about ITPO's work and support services, visit: www.itpo.ca

This episode highlights the challenges and potential solutions for integrating internationally trained physicians into the Canadian healthcare system, with a focus on creating more accessible pathways while maintaining quality of care.

It's Season 2 of Prescription for Primary Care, and we're starting off with a chat with our friends in Eastern Canada!

In this episode, we explore the transformative potential of nurse practitioners in addressing New Brunswick's healthcare crisis with Sharon Hamilton, President of the Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick.

Sharon shares her expertise on how nurse practitioners are positioned to revolutionize primary care access in New Brunswick and discusses the critical need for inclusive collaborative care models.

1. New Brunswick's Healthcare Landscape

• Current state of primary care access in the region

• Nurse practitioners as second-fastest growing profession nationally

• Historical challenges in healthcare collaboration

• Role of nurse practitioners in primary care

Sharon Hamilton is the President of the Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick. She completed her nurse practitioner training at Yale University in 2005, specializing in oncology and palliative care, before pursuing additional primary care education at the University of New Brunswick. Currently, she serves at the Fredericton Downtown Community Health Clinic and contributes to medical education as a lecturer at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Medicine.

You can find find the Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick on:

Website: https://www.npnb.ca/

Facebook: @NPNBpublic

LinkedIn: @npnb-ipnb

"Nurse practitioners commonly secure rosters of nine hundred to one thousand patients within three years."

"Get the people at the table who are working on the ground, who know what needs to be done so that our healthcare system can thrive."

In this episode of "Prescription for Primary Care," we sit down with Dr. Alex Nataros, a full-service family physician from the North Island Community Health Centre in Port Hardy, British Columbia, to discuss the critical challenges facing rural healthcare in Canada.

Dr. Nataros provides firsthand insights from the northern tip of Vancouver Island, offering a compelling look at the realities of rural medical practice and the systemic issues affecting healthcare delivery in remote communities.

1. State of Rural Healthcare

• Current physician distribution trends in Canada

• Role of nurse practitioners in rural settings

• Evolution of the 'rural pipeline' concept since 2012

• Need for increased family doctor training

Dr. Alex Nataros serves as a full-service family physician at the North Island Community Health Centre in Port Hardy, BC, bringing valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities in rural healthcare delivery.

You can find Dr. Nataros on Facebook and Twitter - @Alex Nataros MD

• Rural and remote doctors are burning out. What will it take to help them?

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Dr. Brian Rotenberg to discuss the controversial draft policy recently released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) regarding private healthcare and employer-funded care.

Dr. Rotenberg, whose LinkedIn post sparked some attention, shares his insights on why he believes the CMA's stance is misaligned with the needs of both physicians and patients. We explore the implications of this policy for millions of Canadians and the potential for positive change in the healthcare system.

1. Dr. Rotenberg's LinkedIn Post

• Overview of the CMA's draft policy and its implications

• Examination of the CMA's position against private healthcare and employer-funded care

• Discussion on the stagnation of healthcare in Ontario and Canada

Dr. Brian Rotenberg is a Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University (London, Canada) and Residency Program Director for the department.  He is also Chair, Medical Advisory Committee at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. 

• Dr. Brian Rotenberg's LinkedIn Post - https://tinyurl.com/bde7cdxz

In this episode, we dive into how AI is transforming the field of medicine with Dr. Jordan Vollrath from Cherry Health. Join us as we explore the evolving role of physicians in the age of technology and discuss how medical specialties might shift towards more procedural tasks.

Key Points Discussed:

• Impact of AI on Physician Productivity: How AI tools are streamlining workflows and increasing efficiency.

Guest Information:

Dr. Jordan Vollrath, Cherry Health

Dr. Jordan Vollrath offers a unique perspective on the integration of AI in healthcare and its implications for the future of medical practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Physicians will need to adapt to new AI-driven workflows.

• Cherry Health

Stay tuned for more engaging discussions on the future of health innovation.

Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others passionate about the evolving world of healthcare.

In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges facing the Canadian healthcare system and explore potential solutions highlighted in the documentary "Health Reform Now."

Our guest, Colin Craig, from SecondStreet.org discusses their documentary, and the importance of learning from better-performing healthcare systems around the world and the need for political will to implement change.

1. Current State of Canadian Healthcare

• Shocking statistics: 17,032 patients died on waiting lists between April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023

• Activity-Based Funding: Incentivizing hospitals to treat more patients

• Introduction to patientoptions.ca: Helping patients navigate both public and private healthcare options in Canada

• Importance of organizations like SecondStreet.org in proposing and advocating for healthcare reforms

• Discussing successful healthcare policies from around the world that Canada could adopt

• Documentary - Health Reform Now

Colin Craig, President of SecondStreet.org

Colin Craig has worked in the field of public policy for two decades and has helped shape government decisions at the municipal, provincial and federal level.

Prior to launching SecondStreet.org, Colin worked for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), a non-profit taxpayers’ watchdog organization. During his time with the CTF, he led the organization’s efforts to convince the federal government to draft and pass the First Nations Financial Transparency Act. Colin was also instrumental in exposing corruption during the construction of the City of Winnipeg’s police headquarters project. While working for the CTF in Alberta, he exposed and helped discontinue the City of Calgary’s golden retirement bonus scheme, helped reform council’s pension system (the mayor’s second pension is being phased out) and helped the CTF convince a majority of voters to vote “no” during Calgary’s Olympic bid plebiscite.

Colin has an MBA and a degree in economics from the University of Manitoba. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee medal in 2022 by the Premier of Alberta. Colin is the author of “The Government Wears Prada”  and contributed several chapters to the eBook Life After COVID. 

Stay tuned for more episodes exploring the future of health innovation. Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and share this important conversation with others who care about the future of Canadian healthcare.

In this episode of "Prescription for Primary Care," our speakers discusses the role of physician assistants in primary health care. Guest speaker, physician assistant, Portia Mielnik, examines how physician assistants can impact primary care delivery in Canada. The conversation explores common misconceptions about the profession, the collaborative nature of their work with family doctors, and how physician assistants can help improve access to care and reduce wait times for patients.

In this episode, our Healtheon panel discusses technology and artificial intelligence in primary health care. Moderated by Ziggy Hafeez, Josh Steinberg (VP of Business Development, Healtheon) and Dr. Abdulla (Family Physician) examine technology and artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector can impact primary care in Canada. 

In this episode, Tanya Dodaro leads a discussion about the critical roles that nurse practitioners can play in alleviating the strain on the Canadian primary healthcare system. CEO of the Nurse Practitioners Association of Manitoba (NPAM), Ashley Carruthers, and Nurse Practitioner and Cindy Fehr, on the board of directors of NPAM and policy consultant, clarify the roles and scopes of practice that NPs have, and why NPs can be another solution to help address the cracks in primary healthcare.  Join us for an insightful look at the challenges and potential solutions for improving Canadian primary healthcare accessibility.

To learn more about the Nurse Practitioners Association of Manitoba, visit their website at https://nursepractitioner.ca/.

In this episode, our Healtheon panel discusses the recent OurCare survey findings on Canada's primary care challenges. Moderated by Tanya Dodaro, Ted Berlad, Ryan Tso and Dr. Raymond Rupert examine the deep frustration among Canadians regarding access to primary care. They explore key issues like struggle for timely appointments and care, fewer medical students choosing family medicine, and some strategy into fixing a complex problem. Join us for an insightful look at the challenges and potential solutions for improving Canadian primary healthcare accessibility.