The bleak picture and much of the statistical information Barer and colleagues1 present for Canadians studying abroad who want to enter Canadian residency programs are accurate. The authors conclude that the road is very dark and difficult for these brave and enterprising students who return home to practise medicine.
I would also advise Canadians who study medicine abroad that if they were to continue their postgraduate medical education and training in specified foreign jurisdictions, they could obtain Canadian medical training equivalency and then re-enter Canada on equal footing with their Canadian-trained colleagues. Specifically, Canadians who study abroad, complete their family medicine/general practice training and obtain certification in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand are eligible for certification by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, possibly without writing the examinations. Further, depending in which Canadian province they choose to practise, they may also be exempt from the Medical Council of Canada examinations.
Canadians who choose to complete their specialty training and obtain certification in one of several recognized jurisdictions across the globe, can become eligible to write the corresponding Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada examinations and obtain certification before or after their return to Canada.
Alternate pathways exist via specific provincially managed medical assessment programs. These programs are typically targeted toward specific medical disciplines in high-need communities and can change over time. Therefore, a careful evaluation of the program and medical credentials must be completed before making such a commitment.
Unfortunately, the authors1 chose to present only the bleak side of this issue, rather than research more deeply to uncover alternative global medical education options. We can guide Canadians who study abroad back to Canada, with their heads held high with pride.
Canadians studying medicine abroad should consult with a Canadian physician recruitment specialist to help plan their return home, on their own terms.