Hello everyone,

We are moving into one of the most exciting seasons of our recruitment year. We have had a good start to this fiscal with some fun events celebrating our graduating medical students and enjoying medical resident events.

We have been very busy with what seems like an increase in activity for site visits and signed offers over last year and we are thrilled with these results. This is a culmination of many levers pulled towards recruitment targets and working with partners across the province on new pathways to bring doctors into Nova Scotia.

This time of year sees an increase in Site Visits and there is no better time to showcase our province and what great things are in store outside of the workplace. This is where our recruiters shine as they work with communities to promote the province they love. Our communities will be out in full force over the summer hosting events, lobster boils, boat rides and more for to help recruit new physicians and show appreciation for the ones who have chosen our many wonderful communities to live in.

We are working to launch our revised recruitment site and we are looking forward to sharing this update with you in our next edition.

Stay safe and stay hydrated!

Cheers,

Nicole

From April 1 to May 31, 2024 we welcomed eight family doctors and 18 other specialists. The IWK welcomed 2 specialists.

Currently, we have 93 physicians across all specialties expected to start within the next few weeks to 10 months, including 43 Family/Primary Care Physicians.

By comparison, at the same time last year, we had 65 physicians with pending start dates across all specialties, including 23 Family/Primary Care Physicians.

You can view the full report here.

• Emergency Medicine/Hospitalist recruitment is priority across the province with ongoing efforts to recruit locum and permanent positions.
• We maintain our steadfast focus on recruiting family medicine physicians to ensure comprehensive primary care for Nova Scotians.
• We continue our community partnerships specifically with our community navigators to learn more ways to work together more effectively and efficiently.
• Our team is expanding! Due to increased demand, we are adding 3 physician recruitment consultants who will focus on primary care, locum support, and specific regional recruitment such as Southwest Nova.
• In collaboration with People Services, we have appointed Emma Keevil as the Manager of Marketing. This role will play a crucial part in developing a marketing strategy for Nova Scotia Health Recruitment, encompassing various media channels and aligning with both People Services and physician recruitment initiatives to promote Nova Scotia Health as the employer of choice.
• With the introduction of several new licensure pathways this past year, the number of inquiries from physicians eligible for licensure has significantly increased. We will be hiring two Talent Acquisition Specialists to manage intake, meet prospective physicians to understand their needs, and guide them through the initial process. They will also assist with sourcing, attending conferences, and follow-up post-events. These roles will complement and expedite service delivery to prospective doctors, ensuring they receive timely support and guidance through the recruitment process.
• Onboarding has been identified as a crucial area requiring improvement and support. Therefore, we will be recruiting two onboarding consultants to guide physicians from the beginning of their practice and support them throughout their first year. This team will be overseen by a Physician Support Manager. The onboarding team's focus will be on providing a seamless transition from recruitment to practice.
• We recognize that retention is vital to our success and providing dedicated support to facilitate a smoother transition into practice, along with regular check-ins and opportunities to connect with physicians throughout their journey, will enhance our ability to retain physicians in Nova Scotia.

Clinical Field Assessors Needed for the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program!

The dedication of family physicians Dr. Jota and Dr. MacDougall ensures that the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program (NSPRAP) continues to thrive, bringing essential medical expertise to communities across the province. Learn more about Drs. Jota and MacDougall’s experiences as assessors with NSPRAP here.

Designed to introduce family doctors to underserviced Nova Scotia community practices, NSPRAP recruits international medical graduates who wish to practice family medicine in Nova Scotia. The program aims to ensure that these graduates possess the appropriate clinical skills and knowledge to provide quality patient care. Candidates must complete two clinical field assessments with experienced family physicians in Nova Scotia. Learn more about the program: Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program | Nova Scotia, Canada (nsprap.com)

The success of the program hinges on recruiting enough family doctors to serve as clinical field assessors. Nova Scotia Health is actively seeking physicians to become assessors. Family physicians interested in this role will need a separate exam room for the candidate at their clinic, as well as a passion for teaching and assessing candidates. Those interested in this highly rewarding role should reach out to info@nsprap.ca or submit an expression of interest here.

Truro marketing campaigns result in success for physician recruitment

The Truro-Colchester Partnership for Economic (TCPEP), in partnership with Nova Scotia Health, recently launched two marketing campaigns to recruit physicians to the Truro-Colchester area. The marketing campaigns resulted in over 300 expressions of interest in total from physicians from around the world interested in learning more about practice opportunities in Nova Scotia and living and working in the province.

The TCPEP is one of seven regional enterprise networks in Nova Scotia, focused on driving economic development within the area. TCPEP’s key mandates include supporting business startups and promoting strategic population growth. A significant part of their efforts is directed towards physician recruitment and retention, a crucial component of their population growth strategy.

Community & Business Liaison for TCPEP, Karen Putnam’s role involves settlement and integration of new physicians into the community. Learn more about Karen and the marketing campaigns here.

Meet Nancy Whalley: The heart behind welcoming healthcare professionals to Digby

Nancy Whalley, a dedicated community navigator, has made it her mission to support healthcare professionals and their families as they settle into the Digby area of Nova Scotia. Born in Digby, Whalley returned to her roots in 2005 after spending twelve years away. "I came back home when I had my daughter," she shares, reflecting on the deep connection she has with her hometown.

In her role, Whalley, is instrumental in assisting incoming healthcare professionals with various aspects of their settlement.

"I help with housing, childcare, activities, and even spousal employment. Anything that can make their transition smoother," she explains. Working closely with Nova Scotia Health's physician recruitment consultants, she coordinates community site tours, meet and greets, and hosts medical students. "We want newcomers to feel connected and see all the great things our community offers both professionally and personally." Learn more about Nancy here.

Welcoming Family Medicine Physician Dr. Joel Arsenault to Southwestern Nova Scotia

Dr. Joel Arsenault exemplifies the core values of rural medicine–dedication, resilience, and a deep connection with the community. Starting his practice just last fall in southwestern Nova Scotia, he is eager to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of residents in Digby and Clare, addressing a crucial gap in access to primary healthcare in the area.

Originally from a small Acadian community in Prince Edward Island, Dr. Arsenault completed his primary and secondary education in French. Introduced to the southwestern part of the province while attending Université Sainte-Anne, Dr. Arsenault went on to pursue his Medical Doctorate at L'Université de Sherbrooke.

After completing residency training in Moncton as part of Dalhousie University's family medicine program last summer, Dr. Arsenault now divides his time between Digby and Clare, dedicating two days a week to each community. This story is one of full circle connections and shows the potential of communities who invest in medical learners early in their journey. Learn more about Dr. Joel Arsenault here.

Stories from the Road: Daring Doc Rescues Geese

For Physician Recruitment Consultant Heather Rushton, getting to play ‘tour guide’ to international physicians is one of the best parts of the job. In addition to helping to match interested physicians to a clinic, driving the roads of Central Zone and showing off local landmarks and neighborhoods is all part of the fun.

On a recent site visit with an Australian physician, Dr. Asim Khan, the drive took an unexpected turn towards a high stakes rescue – of the feathered variety!

Dr. Khan and Heather were driving on the Circumferential Highway in Dartmouth enroute to visit a clinic when traffic ahead very quickly stopped short. Flicking on the four ways, Heather, Dr. Khan and his brother Imran (who had joined him for the trip) craned their necks in attempt to see what had caused the sudden stop. Then, just in front of their vehicle, trapped against the highway barrier, was a family of Canada Geese! The crew of eight were weaving along the inside lane of the highway, with the two adult geese hopping back and forth over the barrier, trying to get to Albro Lake on the other side. All traffic stopped on the outbound side as the geese wandered in and out of traffic.

Suddenly, the Geese parents hopped over the barrier and waddled across the highway, leaving the six fuzzy babies alone on the other side! “Imran,” came Dr. Khan’s voice from inside the car, “Let’s go.” Read the full story here.

Congratulations to the Dalhousie Medical class of 2024!

Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you at your gala and graduation BBQ. Good luck on your residency journey, and please stay in touch! Dr. Nicole Boutilier, Executive Vice President, Medicine and Clinical Operations, is pictured speaking at the gala on May 26. Dr. Aaron Smith, Medical Executive Director, Northern Zone, addressed graduates at the graduation BBQ.

Rural Week

First year medical students fanned out across the province for Rural Week. This is a program for first year Dalhousie medical students to expose them early in their career to the realities of rural practice. If we can ignite the fire for comprehensive rural medicine early, we can help sustain this important service in our communities. Each year in May, the medical students spend a week experiencing living, working, practicing in rural communities across Nova Scotia.

There were 14 first-year medical students in the Annapolis Valley last week during Rural Week. They enjoyed dinner one evening with Family Medicine residents, preceptors and NSH recruiters Andrew Steele-Moore and Karma Chickoski.

Great trivia event in Sydney for medical students spending Rural Week in Cape Breton. Special thanks to Doctors Nova Scotia who partnered with us.

First year students ventured to the South Shore for Rural Week.

Resident event with MarDocs 

Family Medicine residents Henry, Michael, and Aparna at the resident event with MarDocs on June 18 in Halifax.

Physician Recruitment Consultant Liz Fraser and Cape Breton Cancer Centre Medical Oncologist Dr. Graydon Lucas attended American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting from June 1st to 3rd in Chicago, IL to discuss exciting practice opportunities awaiting oncologists in beautiful Nova Scotia!

Dr. Emily Rice and Patti Smith, Physician Recruitment Consultant, attending the Canadian Society of Palliative Medicine Advanced Learning in Palliative Care Conference in Toronto, ON from May 30 to June 1, 2024 . There was lots of interest in life and practice in Nova Scotia!

Dr. Maggie Lovett and Dr. Kenneth Rockwood attended the Geriatric Society Conference with Karma Chickoski, Physician Recruitment Consultant, in Birmingham, UK from May 22 to May 24. They engaged with many interested geriatricians at the Nova Scotia Health booth!

Recruiting physicians and nurses at the Pri-Med Canada Virtual Conference & Trade Show on June 13-14, 2024 conference! Pictured are Heather Rushton (Physician Recruitment Consultant), Dr Ade Akindele (MD Recrutiment and Retention Lead), Jacqueline Green (Nurse Practitioner Recruitment) Amy Bent (Recruitment Consultant).

The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada’s Rural and Remote conference 2024 in Edmonton Alberta! Physician Recruitment, Mindy LeBlanc and Dr. Ken Murray attended on behalf of Nova Scotia Health!

Sarah-Marie O'Toole, Physician Recruitment Consultant, at the Canadian Association of Radiologists conference in Montreal, Quebec from April 11 to 14.

Nova Scotia Health continues to target strategic recruitment efforts at physician events, medical conferences, and host new and innovative opportunities to connect with physicians interested in practising in our province.

• June 9-12: Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (Saskatoon, SK)
• June 17-20: RCPsych (Edinburgh, Scotland) - Virtual attendance
• June 26-29: Canadian Dermatology Association (Ottawa, ON)
• August 1-3: National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Students, (Kansas City, MO)
• September 21-24: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Winnipeg, MB)
• September 19-21: The International Conference on Residency Education (Ottawa, ON)
• September 24-28: FMX (Phoenix, AZ)
• September 29-October 2, 2024: American College of Emergency Physicians (Las Vegas, Nevada)
• October 1-2: Acute and General Medicine (London, UK)
• October 16-19: Canadian Society of Internal Medicine (Hamilton, ON)

If you have an event you think we ought to attend, please reply to this newsletter. If you are interested in accompanying recruiters to these kinds of events, we bring a physician along whenever we can. Please let us know!

Site visits are a tool we use to showcase what our province has to offer and are offered to residents and practicing physicians interested in exploring practice opportunities in Nova Scotia. 

Since April 1, 2024, we have welcomed 35 physicians to Nova Scotia and have 29 pending site visits between June and December. 

Dr. Jacob Ogunsina traveled from Australia to Halifax and visited the Central Zone. During his visit, he met with Katrina Philopoulos, Director of Physician Recruitment, and Heather Rushton, Physician Recruitment Consultant.

Physician involvement is crucial to the success of recruitment. If you are interested in participating in any of the following opportunities, just reply to this email.

There are many ways you can be involved:

• Sign up to be a physician ambassador and to attend recruitment events
• Suggest recruitment events that we should attend
• Suggest publications that we can place ads in to reach high needs specialties
• Connect with your local recruitment consultant about hosting events in your area
• Offer to participate in recruitment focus groups