Every year, over 650 internationally trained clinical fellows come to UHN to advance their clinical skills and contribute their expertise to Canadian health care. However, starting medical training in a new country is often overwhelming, especially for international clinical fellows who must adjust to different health care systems, cultural norms, and communication styles.
To tackle these challenges, researchers at The Institute for Education Research at UHN developed ‘Transitions’—a specialized program designed to help internationally trained clinical fellows adapt smoothly to medical training in Canada.
The Transitions program offers a flexible blend of online modules with live virtual sessions. It covers critical topics such as navigating the Canadian health care system, effective communication, patient safety, medical ethics, and social determinants of health.
In the pilot program, 65 fellows from 11 different medical specialties participated. They reported improved learning experiences, reduced anxiety, increased confidence and a stronger sense of community with their peers.
“The success of this pilot demonstrates that tailored support can make a meaningful difference,” adds Dr. Ahmed Al-Awamer, lead author of the study and Educational Investigator at The Institute for Education Research at UHN. “This program isn’t just a bridge; it equips internationally trained clinicians with the confidence and connections they need to make an immediate impact in Canadian health care.”
Transitions is not only flexible and practical but also cost-effective, making it a solution that can be easily adopted by other institutions to support medical trainees from around the world. This year, the Transitions program has expanded and accepted around 300 international clinical fellows. The team seeks to continue improving and expanding this program.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Awamer is the lead author of the study and an Educational Investigator at The Institute for Education Research at UHN. Dr. Al-Awamer is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T) and a Scholar at The Wilson Centre for Research Education at UHN and U of T.
This work was supported by UHN Foundation, UHN International Centre of Education, and UHN Clinical Education.
Al-Awamer A, Malavade T, Jardine J, Kaya E. 'Transitions': A new pilot programme to support the transitions of new internationally educated clinical fellows. Med Educ. 2024 Nov. doi: 10.1111/medu.15523.