American doctors exploring the possibility of moving to Canada

Increase in U.S. Doctors Seeking to Relocate to Canada Following Trump's Election HALIFAX — Since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump in November, there has been a marked increase in American doctors exploring the possibility of moving to Canada, according to recruitment specialists.

Katrina Philopoulos, the physician recruitment director at Nova Scotia Health, reported that 27 American doctors are currently in serious discussions about relocating, which has already led to one hire and a second expected to join the province next year. In a recent interview, Philopoulos noted that her health agency's outreach to doctors is non-political and directed at anyone willing to make a change following Trump's presidency.

"We used this as an opportunity to prioritize recruitment from the United States," she explained, mentioning that the province has been steadily increasing its U.S. recruitment efforts in recent years. Meanwhile, Manitoba's health minister, Uzoma Asagwara, indicated that recruiters in the province are engaged with about 12 U.S. physicians and have hosted webinars for around 50 nurses.

Asagwara stated that now is the time to ramp up recruitment efforts in the United States, particularly since Manitoba has one of the lowest physician-to-population ratios in Canada. "Every part of the solution is important. Our government has committed to adding 400 doctors during our initial mandate," he remarked. Dr. Rohini Patel, representing CanAm Physician Recruiters, revealed that her firm has integrated 347 new U.S. physicians into its network over the past year, with 141 of those in just the last three months — roughly double the amount during the same period the year before.

She emphasized that the doctors she's spoken with are not just making inquiries; they're seriously looking to relocate and are flexible about where they might practice within Canada. Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, pointed out that the increasing interest from U.S. doctors is tied to their dissatisfaction with private insurance and concerns from obstetricians and family practitioners about perceived political interference in their work. Reimer believes that the influx of U.S. physicians could help alleviate the estimated shortage of about 23,000 family doctors in Canada. "While it's too soon to determine if the number of U.S. physicians relocating will match the level of interest we're seeing, it's reasonable to expect some will make the move to Canada," she said. Cuts to health research funding in the U.S. may also be prompting doctors to seek opportunities abroad, noted Reimer: "When research funding is slashed, it has a direct impact on doctors, as scientific inquiry is foundational to our patient care." Furthermore, Reimer mentioned that U.S. family doctors and obstetricians are showing interest due to restrictive policies on abortion and gender-affirming care in various states.

Data from the Medical Council of Canada indicates that approximately 120 U.S. medical graduates a month have recently begun the process of pursuing Canadian licensure, a significant increase from about 10 per month during the same period last year. Dr. Alison Carleton, a U.S. family physician who moved to Manitoba in 2017, is contributing to the province's recruitment initiatives by creating informational resources for her American peers about practicing in Canada. "Most doctors prioritize patient care and value scientific principles, which currently aren't emphasized in the U.S.," she stated. Carleton was drawn to Canada's public healthcare system, as opposed to navigating the complexities of private insurance that sometimes refuses to cover patient care costs. Laura O'Brien, manager of recruitment services at Nova Scotia Health, has also directed her efforts toward attracting American nurses and healthcare professionals since November. She reported receiving about 500 inquiries from American nurses, with around 200 serious expressions of interest.

To date, five registered nurses from the U.S. have secured positions in intensive care units and emergency departments across the province. "Healthcare professionals and nurses are concerned about the ongoing uncertainties in the American healthcare landscape," O'Brien said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 4, 2025. Michael Tutton.
Radio free Canada
Edited:Bosman