Why Canada is seeing an influx of U.S. doctors

Recruitment for American doctors is happening across the country. Alex Karpa reports.

Dr. Jesse Krikorian recently left Michigan, moved to Manitoba for work, then began seeing patients earlier this month.

He is a family physician, and transgender health care, specifically, is a big part of his practice.

Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order defining sex as only male or female – and that it cannot be changed – along with another that seeks to end federal funding of trans health care for patients under 19.

With this direction, Krikorian said it was a wake-up call for him to work outside of the U.S.

“I am very concerned, especially for my trans patients and for my colleagues who are in trans health, because that is so specifically under the microscope with the current (U.S.) administration,” he said. “I know people who have lost access to care, I know families where children have lost access to essential care that has been improving their quality of life.”

Krikorian is concerned about the restrictions in place and feels the situation in the U.S. will only get worse.

“I have colleagues asking me questions on how to make the move to Canada,” he said.

Manitoba wasn’t on the map

Krikorian said he first had his sights set on British Columbia, specifically the Vancouver area, but he wasn’t finding the right fit for a job in the region. That’s where he found Winnipeg’s Klinic Community Health, where he now works.

“I am just so grateful for the opportunity to treat patients in the way that I want to,” he said. “To be able to provide care that really improves quality of life, without having to worry so much about whether or not there will be support, whether I will be targeted with the sort of care I am providing.”

Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says the process is still underway.

“The current number remains at 33 U.S. physicians in various stages of the recruitment process,” a spokesperson told CTV News. “While it isn’t possible to project an exact number of additional recruits, physician recruitment is an ongoing effort, and we are encouraged by the continued interest from U.S. doctors who see Manitoba as a supportive and rewarding place to build their careers.”

Doctors Manitoba President Dr. Nichelle Desilets said this recruitment process is important.

“Canadian and American doctors have very similar training,” she said. “So, efforts were made to streamline that process, and we applaud that.”

Doctors Manitoba began recruitment south of the border last November when the U.S. election was completed. They started a targeted ad campaign, specifically reaching out to physicians in primarily Republican states who were looking for other work opportunities.

“We were kind of first out of the gate with that,” she said. “Since then, other jurisdictions across Canada have followed suit and have done some targeted advertising.”

Country-wide recruitment

Ontario recently said more than 260 U.S. physicians have moved to that province so far this year. B.C.’s government said last month that 38 doctors and 90 nurses were also hired from south of the border.

P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan have all undergone similar campaigns.

More U.S. physicians applying to move

Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association, said the migration up north speaks volumes.

“It speaks to the status of our health-care system, what they have heard about it, how it’s funded and how it’s rolled out across Canada,” she said. “They feel that they would fit in well professionally and personally in the environment.”

Burnell said the high number of physicians from the U.S. coming into Canada will help address doctor shortages across the country.

As important as recruitment is, she said retention is equally as vital.

“We need to make sure they are welcomed into the communities, we need to ensure that they obtain their permanent residency status if they choose,” Burnell said. “We need to make sure that our environments and our care spaces are welcoming, inclusive and safe.”

Desilets agrees with Burnell that retention is crucial.

“We need to look at things like (the administrative) burden, keep looking at things like competitive payment models, and making sure that we keep our own home-grown graduates here,” she said.

Krikorian says he wants to stay in Canada for as long as he can.

“I don’t think I would’ve moved here if I didn’t the possibility of it being a permanent move,” he said. “I would really like to settle down and put down roots. I can’t really tell what the future holds until we get there.”