Remember the first of our interconnected problems? It was the healthcare worker shortage causing wait times, worry and burnout. We need many more licensed healthcare professionals across the country. While adding spaces to educational programs in Canada is important, there is no way it could provide enough workers. What else can we do?

This leads to the second problem that Mentor Me is solving. Luckily, if we can be creative and implement new ideas, this problem can become part of the solution for our struggling system.

So, what is this tricky problem? It is the fact that we have thousands of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) here in Canada, with thousands more arriving each year. Unfortunately, the skills of many are being wasted due to our arduous, costly licensing processes and lack of support during their completion.

Let’s go back a bit. In Canada we are lucky. Skilled professionals want to come here because of the wonderful opportunities it can provide. Immigration is crucial to our economic and social well-being. Our immigration system favors professionals, especially health professionals. Canada plans to welcome up to 25,000(1) IEHPs annually. They are eager to provide the best life for their families and contribute to their new communities. Up to 25,000 health professionals each year! That should be great news, both for IEHPs and for us all. So where is the problem?

Let’s look at an example.  Adnan, a Pharmacist from Syria working as a technician, said that “attempting and failing exams was extremely frustrating as well as expensive. I couldn’t spend the time to attend a university program to re-study Pharmacy from the beginning. I have a family so it was not affordable either. I do not want to just buy a book and read by myself again. I do miss Pharmacy and I would try the exams again if I had someone to help me and if I could prepare on my own schedule”. Unfortunately, stories like his are far too common. In our current system, only 53% of IEHPs become licensed and work in their fields, leaving thousands underemployed or even unemployed (3).

This is frustrating for all of us. IEHPs have worked hard to get here. They want to work. We need them. Providing support would benefit Adnan, his family and us all. Policy experts agree that “removing barriers for internationally trained health professionals is a viable method to assist in building … healthcare capacity[16].”(4). 

This is where both the problem and the opportunity lie. We need to do better. And, with Mentor Me, we can.

Let’s go through the barriers that Adnan mentioned and consider how Mentor Me is a great new solution. We want to see every IEHP become licensed in Canada. 

Cost: Most university-based programs cost $10,00 or more in addition to the unavoidable costs of applications for licensing, exam fees, etc. Cost alone puts these programs out of reach for many who then attempt examinations on their own. Without support they frequently fail, wasting their time and examination fees. With Mentor Me, we provide the one-on-one mentorship hours you need. Our website has reduced the need for significant administration and overhead costs. All this helps create a more affordable solution, one that more people can access.

Time: Most programs take one or two years of full time study and review the bulk of the professional curriculum. Conversely, many study from online materials without guidance for long periods, delaying attempts from lack of confidence. By reviewing the mentee’s individual needs and providing personalized mentorship to build skill and confidence, the length of time to licensing can be significantly reduced. 

Content: Our mentors have been through the process. They can help determine what is needed for each individual to succeed. It might be a thorough review of some content areas or learning differences in roles and exam formats in Canada. Mentor Me’s flexibility allows for that. You are learning from someone who has been through the process and succeeded. They really understand. They assess what you have accomplished and provide what you need.  

Mentor Me is a personalized, flexible path to licensing. We match unlicensed IEHPs with licensed IEHPs for mentorship. We want to help every IEHP become licensed as soon as possible. 

Are you a licensed IEHP? Congratulations!   Register as a mentor on our official launch date of October 11, 2022 – start your own business, earn income and be part of the solution.

Still working towards licensing? A personalized, flexible path to mentorship is within reach. Register as a mentee and check back in October to see our mentors’ profiles!

Not an IEHP? You can still help– please share this widely with any friends or colleagues who work in healthcare to spread the word. Let’s not wait for policy changes- we can be part of the solution right now!

1. Robitaille, E. (2022): How many immigrants will Canada welcome?
2. Ministry of Long-Term Care (2020). Long-Term Care Staffing Study. Long-Term Care Staffing Study Advisory Group. Ontario.
3. Addressing the Underutilization of Internationally Educated Health Professionals in Canada: What the Data Does and Doesn’t Tell Us | Policy Brief | WES
4. (2022): Immigration matters in health care – Canada.ca
5. Ardal, S and Hyde, S. (2022) Improving Access to Internationally Educated Health Professionals