u/Consistent_hope06

Hi everyone,

​I’m an International Medical Graduate (MD) who recently moved to Ottawa and am looking for some guidance on breaking into the local healthcare system.

​Back home, I have hands-on experience working in clinical settings as a physician assistant and clinical assistant, managing clinical workflows, patient documentation, and medical administration. My goal right now is to secure an entry-level position—such as a clinical assistant, medical assistant, physician assistant-type role, or any relevant healthcare support position—to gain Canadian clinical experience and better understand the system here.

​If anyone knows of active job openings, clinic networks that frequently hire IMGs, or useful platforms to apply through, I would really appreciate your advice. Alternatively, if there are any healthcare professionals or fellow IMGs here who have successfully navigated this specific path in Ottawa, your guidance would mean a lot to me.

​Thank you so much!

​Hi everyone,

​I recently moved to Canada, holding Permanent Residency (PR). I am a 29-year-old International Medical Graduate (IMG) looking to map out a realistic, stable long-term career transition here rather than immediately diving into the grueling and uncertain clinical residency pathway.

​I’m currently looking closely at Health Information Management (HIM) or Health Informatics (HI). With my medical background, I feel like I understand the workflows and clinical terminology intuitively, but I want to get some brutally honest feedback from people on the ground in Canada.

​Is the job market genuinely welcoming to IMGs in this sector? I know HIM often requires a CHIMA-accredited program and certification. Is it worth going back to school for a 1-2 year postgraduate diploma/certificate to break into this?

​HIM vs. Health Informatics: For those working in hospital IT or data administration, which side has better growth and entry-level prospects for someone with a medical degree but limited coding/tech background?

​What are the realistic starting roles? Should I expect to start at entry-level medical coding/records, or do IMGs manage to pivot into analyst or coordinator roles relatively quickly?

​Alternative paths: I’m also keeping my mind open to areas like Regulatory Affairs, Medical Science Liaison (MSL) roles, Clinical Research, or corporate healthcare safety. If you were in my shoes at 29 with an MD from abroad and Canadian PR, which avenue would you invest your time and tuition into for a stable career?

​Would love to hear from fellow IMGs who transitioned, or anyone working in Canadian Healthcare Admin/IT. Thank you so much!