INDIA / CANADA :
Dr. Nusrat Parveen was an established gynecologist in the Middle East. A medical graduate from Aligarh Muslim University in India, she acquired post-graduate qualifications including membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London, U.K., and a diploma in the same field from the University of Dublin in Ireland. But this long list of educational achievements was not enough to get Parveen a job in Canada.
The process to become a doctor in Canada takes time, and now Parveen shares her own journey to medical licensure with fellow international medical graduates (IMGs) who aspire to practise medicine in Canada. For her efforts as a mentor to IMGs, she was recently recognized by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne with the Volunteer of the Year Award for community services.
How did you come up with the idea of mentoring other IMGs?
My husband and I were volunteering with a food bank, when we came across an IMG who was lonely and felt lost as she did not have anybody to support or guide her. But she had the passion to practise medicine in Canada. Her situation had not dampened her spirit. It was her story that first inspired us.
How did you find other IMGs to mentor?
The spark to help fellow IMGs and knowing that many are not aware of the process and are struggling, made us start the IDEAS program at Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office (TNO) where the relevant support and resources are provided to IMGs.
What has been your experience of supporting other IMGs?
Initially, it was scary. I had my commitments to my family and to bring up my two children. I was studying full time toward the physician’s assistant program at the University of Toronto, so my hands were full. But the fact that everything came together so nicely and the enthusiasm from the IMGs kept me going.
Where exactly are you in your own professional journey?
I have cleared MCCEE, MCCQE1, NAC OSCE, IELTS and workplace culture and OSLT courses. The physician’s assistant program has prepared me for the supervised clinical practice and gave me an opportunity to refresh my clinical skills. In short, it has prepared me to integrate well into supervised clinical practice while building connections and references.
You have not yet completed your own journey to practising medicine in Canada, so what gave you the confidence to mentor other IMGs?
I realized that there are many IMGs who need support, resources and peer mentoring. As I had prepared for my exams, I had a good idea of how things worked here and knew the process and where to look for resources. This knowledge of the system and process gave me courage and confidence to support fellow IMGs. I did have some doubts, which quickly vanished with my husband’s unflinching support.
Why are you so committed to helping others through this mentoring program?
I have given so much of my time and dedication to the medical profession, as it has given me opportunities to serve people. Mentoring IMGs is yet another way of giving back to the community.
What is your advice to your fellow IMGs looking to get accredited in Canada?
Perseverance and extensive networking to build connections and references is the key to success in Canada. Try studying a program like the PA program, which helps to refresh your skills and connect to a practice.
source: http://www.canadianimmigrant.ca / Canadian Immigrant / by Baisakhi Roy / November 20th, 2015