Tracing the occupational integration of internationally trained medical doctors of African descent

While Canadian schools are not producing enough medical doctors there is a surplus of immigrant medical doctors who are well equipped and eager to practice. Internationally trained medical doctors have increasingly experience difficulties in finding jobs that reflects their medical training and expertise. This research investigates the occupational integration of internationally trained medical doctors of African descent. Using snowball sampling and convenience sampling methods I interviewed 12 participants. Their experiences show why many internationally trained medical doctors end up in other fields after they try to practice medicine in Canada. Participants most often noted issues of lack of knowledge about the process, limited residency positions, lack of requirement consistency and lack of guidance. This study is expected to add to our understanding of internationally trained immigrant doctors’ path to successful or different medical occupation and the effectiveness of policies and practices that aim to help these professionals. Key words: internationally trained medical doctors; occupational integration; employment; African and Caribbean immigrants in Ontario.