McMaster and PEI launch program for internationally-trained physicians

A new initiative, the PEI-McMaster Collaborative Hospitalist Fellowship, aims to ease the pathway for internationally-trained doctors to practice medicine in Canada. This one-year internal medicine training program is designed specifically for international medical graduates (IMGs), helping them gain the necessary qualifications to become licensed to practice in Prince Edward Island (PEI) upon completion. Physicians accepted into and completing the fellowship are required to commit to practicing in PEI for a minimum of one year. To be eligible, applicants must hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status and satisfy additional criteria set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of PEI. Priority will be given to candidates who are eligible to take the Royal College internal medicine exam through the Practice Eligibility Route (PER).

The PEI-McMaster Collaborative Hospitalist Fellowship is a joint initiative between the Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI) and McMaster University, based in Hamilton, Ontario. This program is designed to support internationally-trained physicians in integrating into the Canadian healthcare system while addressing local workforce needs in PEI. According to PEI's Minister of Health and Wellness, Mark McLane, the collaboration with McMaster University and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of PEI strengthens both physician integration and the provincial healthcare system. Health PEI, the province’s health authority, is responsible for selecting and funding fellowship candidates, aiming to retain more primary health practitioners within the province. Most of the training—12 out of 13 blocks—will be completed at McMaster University, with the final block taking place in PEI. The initiative was inspired in part by the successful experience of Dr. Ali Abdullah, an internationally-trained internal medicine specialist who completed the McMaster fellowship and began practicing in PEI in 2024

International medical graduates (IMGs) often encounter considerable challenges in becoming licensed to practice medicine in Canada. The standard path to licensure requires completing a residency program, which involves several years of supervised medical practice. However, in most provinces, the majority of residency positions are allocated to graduates from Canadian medical schools, leaving only a small portion—typically around 10%—available for IMGs. This limited access to residency spots has created a significant bottleneck for internationally-trained physicians. In response, medical regulatory colleges and various levels of government across Canada have been exploring and developing alternative pathways to help IMGs obtain licensure and contribute to the country’s healthcare system.

The PEI-McMaster Collaborative Hospitalist Fellowship aligns with two major trends in Canadian immigration policy: the targeted recruitment of healthcare professionals and the streamlining of licensing pathways for internationally-trained medical workers. These efforts reflect Canada's broader strategy to address critical shortages in the healthcare sector. In recent years, the federal government and provinces have introduced a series of measures aimed at attracting and integrating foreign-trained healthcare professionals. For example, in 2023, Canada launched category-based Express Entry draws prioritizing healthcare occupations, and in 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expanded this category to include social workers and therapists. Additionally, new public policies now allow physicians to count self-employed experience towards Express Entry eligibility. Provinces like Ontario have updated their immigration streams to accommodate self-employed physicians, while others—such as British Columbia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Saskatchewan—have limited certain immigration pathways to in-demand occupations, including healthcare roles. Furthermore, provinces such as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and PEI have introduced specific incentives to attract and retain internationally-trained healthcare workers. The new fellowship program is part of this nationwide push to strengthen Canada’s healthcare workforce through innovative, inclusive policies.