In 2022, as part of the development phase of the project, the Pegasus Institute held a series of consultations, interviews and informal focus groups, in order to identify of the barriers faced by internationally educated health professionals when seeking licensure.
Information was gathered from key informants: IEHPs/RHPs, Academic Directors of Bridging Programs and representatives of other healthcare professional educational and networking programs, Academics studying migrant health and social integration into the Canadian context, healthcare professionals working with immigrant and refugee populations, representatives from national professional organizations, Deans of Medicine and allied health professions, and Medical Associations.
Consulted IEHPs were at various stages in their journeys to integrating into the Canadian healthcare system, whether they were keeping to their path as healthcare professionals, or venturing on a new one. Each and every IEHP shared their individual experiences and challenges, as well as resources that helped them in finding their way upon arriving in Canada. Consulted healthcare professionals and academics in the field were able to share knowledge and expertise on behalf of their research and experiences researching pathways to IEHP integration as general physicians, nurses, public health professionals, and rehabilitation scientists among other professions.
Each and every one of these conversations provided us with varying perspectives and principles that beg the question: “Given socio-cultural and licensing limitations, how do foreign-licensed healthcare professionals not only contribute to Canada’s health human resources but begin to build a life that is socially and economically satisfactory for themselves and for their families?”
A full copy of the report summarizing these stakeholder interviews can be found here Report.
