New Fellowship Program Opens Doors for Internationally-Trained Doctors in PEI

A new initiative by the Prince Edward Island government and McMaster University is set to create a much-needed pathway for internationally-trained medical graduates (IMGs) to practice medicine in Canada. The PEI-McMaster Collaborative Hospitalist Fellowship offers a tailored one-year training program in internal medicine, designed specifically for IMGs who face challenges entering the Canadian healthcare workforce.

Program Overview: Bridging the Gap in Medical Licensing

The newly launched program is the result of a partnership between Health PEI, McMaster University, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island. It offers a pragmatic alternative for qualified foreign-trained doctors who are often sidelined by the competitive residency system in Canada.

Successful candidates will undergo a 13-block internal medicine curriculum—12 blocks at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and 1 block in Prince Edward Island. After completion, participants are required to serve at least one year in PEI’s healthcare system.

Health PEI will oversee the selection and funding process, with the long-term goal of addressing local healthcare shortages, particularly in internal medicine and hospitalist care.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

To apply, candidates must:

• Be internationally-trained medical graduates (IMGs)
• Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• Meet eligibility requirements set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of PEI
• Preferably be eligible for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certification via the Practice Eligibility Route (PER)

The province is targeting skilled IMGs who are close to obtaining licensure but lack access to traditional residency training slots.

Model for Success: Inspired by Real-World Experience

This initiative draws inspiration from the successful journey of Dr. Ali Abdullah, an internationally-trained physician who completed McMaster’s hospitalist fellowship and began practicing in PEI in 2024. His experience highlighted both the viability and necessity of alternative licensing routes for IMGs in Canada.

Why This Matters: Tackling the IMG Licensing Bottleneck

International medical graduates often face an uphill battle when trying to obtain licenses in Canada. A significant obstacle is the limited number of residency positions, with most provinces allocating only about 10% of slots to IMGs, favoring local graduates.

With this new fellowship, PEI joins a growing national movement to modernize and diversify the paths to medical licensure—without compromising standards of care.

Canada’s Broader Effort to Address Healthcare Shortages

This fellowship is part of a larger national strategy to attract and retain healthcare professionals through both immigration and regulatory reform. Recent federal and provincial actions include:

• Category-based Express Entry draws for healthcare workers (2023–2025)
• Expanded eligibility for physicians and therapists under provincial nominee programs
• Recognition of self-employment in medical practice for Express Entry scoring
• Targeted immigration pathways in PEI, Saskatchewan, BC, and New Brunswick for healthcare occupations
• Recruitment incentives in multiple provinces for skilled foreign medical professionals

With an aging population and growing demand on healthcare services, such initiatives are seen as essential for maintaining and improving access to care across Canada.

For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!