Interprovincial partnership to help fast-track international doctors’ careers in P.E.I.

McMaster University and the Government of Prince Edward Island have announced an interprovincial partnership for a physician fellowship program. (Source: Government of Prince Edward Island)

McMaster University and the Government of Prince Edward Island have announced the first-of-its-kind interprovincial partnership.

The PEI-McMaster Collaborative Hospitalist Fellowship is a training model designed for international medical graduates. The fellowship trains physicians to specialize in providing direct care to a wide range of patients, from the beginning to end of their stay, a news release from the provincial government said.

“This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration in Canada. Our approach provides an accelerated and practical route for highly trained specialist international physicians to transition into the Canadian health system and begin contributing to patient care quickly,” Haroon Yousuf, hospitalist fellowship director and associate professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University said.

Fellows will complete most of their training at McMaster, with one of the 13 training blocks delivered in P.E.I.

After completing the program, physicians are required to practice in the province for a minimum of one year.

“By collaborating with McMaster University and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island, this initiative helps international physicians integrate into the Canadian health system while giving PEI a boost in our workforce,” said Mark McLane, minister of Health and Wellness for Prince Edward Island. “It’s a forward-looking strategy that benefits everyone and shows our commitment to expanding pathways for International Medical Graduates in the province.”

The collaboration was inspired in part by the hiring of Ali Abdullah, an internationally trained internal medicine specialist, who completed McMaster’s hospitalist fellowship and began his practice in P.E.I. in 2024.

“This collaboration shows what’s possible when universities and governments work together to rethink training and recruitment,” Yousuf said. “Together, we can break down barriers and create new opportunities, across the country and beyond.”

Interested candidates can apply on McMaster University’s website.

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.