Dear Vic, Jun, Melissa, Roel, Arnell, Carlos, Pinky, John, Bea, Chloe and everybody else-   Thank you for opening up to us. As newcomers to Canada, we can empathize with you. Thank you for the encouraging and inspirational words. Salamat sa information. If you are a Sound of Music fan like us, keep in mind- When God closes a door , He opens a window.

Re: From PIDrU: Re: Career Path - there are many options
Hello to all ka-Pidrus,         I was reading all your e-mail at work today after I was told by Carlos about them.  Yes, it's very difficult to leave Philippines with our precious profession and come to a country where nothing matters much when it comes to our education/training/experiences back home.  That's why we have to endure any kind of work just to be able to support our family.   I too have my own share of struggles and difficulties but with strong faith in God you keep going with the strength he provides. After all, wala kang ibang maasahan dito kundi siya lang (you're faith in him).  I believe there is a time for everything. It may not be the time yet for you but it will come. When I started here in Canada I even worked as a factory worker for a while, then chelation technician now I am working as a study coordinator at same hospital as Carlos but different sections.  My work provide an opportunity to mingle/collaborate with some of the best doctors in the world just like Carlos has mentioned       But just like food, I still crave to go back to  medical practice again someday. I also  remember what Drs. Bong and Chi Lapena had told us before, no matter where you are now or  what  kind of work you are doing today, always do your best but also mindful at the same time of  your ultimate goal. Mahirap talaga lalo na sa umpisa  pero with our strength and faith in him you can make it.   Jun Estacio

Re: From PIDrU: PA career path: caution...
Hi mga Ka pidru, I was touched by the series of emails in the group. Yes it is true, it is hard to get integrated especially if you do not have connections and you are lost in the maze.  Ang gagaling nila mag-english...hehehe and ours are purposeful ones. That's one of our disadvantage.  Just remember they are also in that maze. Canadians are obliged to disclose most information...so aside from inside info everything is in the website. I encourage everyone to just read through their websites and explore it. The info is there. It just needs to be read. I am really amazed by how their grads can search through a website. That is just my advice. Presently, I'm in nursing and planned to stay there (seems I'm in a fellowship), if no other opportunity knocks. I am looking forward to retirement. I did not concentrated everything to healthcare thus I also studied financials as part time. After all most of our dreams can be solved by the Loonie. What counts is what you keep and how you manage it. It may be your calling who knows. roel

Re: From PIDrU: PA career path: caution...
Being an immigrant in Canada is tough. But whatever reason we have for coming (or planning to come)  here, we have to live by the choice we make. That reason may very well be at the top of our priorities otherwise we would have gone back to our practices in the Philippines. I know a couple who left after 5 or 6 months stay because they can't endure doing odd jobs.   Look into different colleges that offer alternative careers in healthcare. You may find something that will suit you well. Sleep specialist, research associate, lab technician, ultrasound tech, practical nurse (or reg nurse)... US techs make a lot of money (hint hint). We just have to accept the fact that we're not doctors here (not yet, at least). I can't help though in naming the good colleges. I am only aware of Michener Institute, George Brown, Trios.... However, knowing someone is the key.   Like many, I am struggling to become a MD in Canada (almost giving up) but I am fortunate to have nursing as pre-med and the College of Nurses of Ontario accepted my medical education as "further education" and after passing the exam, I am now a Registered Nurse in Ontario. Word of caution though for anyone with nursing education who are about to come to Ontario, you might want to rethink your province of choice. Maybe go to Manitoba or Saskatchewan were foreign nurses are recognized AS SOON AS THEY LAND, so I heard. But prepare for brutal winters.   It took me 1 year to get approved to take the exam (during this time, I prepared for and took EE and QE1). Having no experience as a nurse in the Philippines and no nursing education in Canada, I can't seem to get employed in a hospital. For 18 months now, I work in a fertility clinic west of Toronto as a RN. Though my experience is limited to infertility, the eggs, the sperm, uterus, cervix and vajayjay, I am happy where I am and what I do. On the other hand, I am not paid very well. Heck, my US tech is paid alot more!!! However, I have my own office and I see patients first-hand. I have independence but all orders come from the doctor/s, of course. Who's to complain, right? I am still hoping to get in the hospital, I will be taking some courses and a clinical enhancement course soon to hopefully boost my chances.   For Nursing, look up the Canadian Nurses Association website, follow the links to the specific province you intend to go. If you're still in the Philippines, get the info/application package already, just let them know that you're still in the process of applying for immigration with so and so time frame to land in Canada. Take note of the recommended reviewers in the website. When reviewing, think how your nurses would respond to certain clinical situation. The Canadian Registered Nurse Exam is so different from NCLEX. The questions and choices are more practical than clinical. Check out the "College Documents: Standards and Guidelines" of the College of Nurses of Ontario. The docs are a bit boring but they will help in answering exam questions.
I still get teary-eyed thinking about my frustrations of not practicing. I am looking for practice partners for NAC OSCE. Anyone interested to practice somewhere west of Toronto? Maybe meet up in Mississauga? Though, I will be okay to go to downtown TO once or twice a month.   Mabuhay tayong lahat. Naway maging manggagamot tayong lahat sa Canada. Let's bring our knowledge, skill, professionalism and empathetic nature to Canada.

Hi Bea!
You made me cry. I'm also thankful to be part of PIDrU. I also believe that God used it as an instrument to help me find the work that I am in right now.
Thanks for all your inspiring stories and encouraging words. This goes not only to you but also to all the other ka-PIDrUs who made their share.

Well done Dr. Padua! Kahangahanga ka, hopefully your story can serve as an
inspiration to a lot PIDrU members who are also finding it tough at the
moment.

Hello Everybody!

A lot of you have been here for sometime now and somehow found a way to make
things work for you. It may not be in the field of being a Medical Doctor but
in the field of science just the same and others as well. Some have been here
the same length of time and have not really found there niche yet and are still
searching. Yet, there are those that have just arrived, been here months, been
here a year maybe or two and going through fire. I understand that. I know it
isn't easy. It hasn't been easy for me either. For those who are here with
family, good for you. I came with my son and was trying to find my way here and
yet was going through real horrid personal difficulties(what it is is of no
consequence). Each day hurt the worst than the last and I am talking emotional,
psychological, and spiritual as well. I found PIDrU through the same people who
are members here and I got invited to join. It was and still is the best place
to start and I developed acquaintances first. They directed me to try out the
school Robetech Institute. I did. I took Medical Lab. Assistant/Technician
which weirdly they call an upgrade for us. What a laugh right! But, if you
look at it that way you wont get anywhere. So, I had to remove that mentality.
I know who and what I am and that is all that matters right now. I was sent to
a placement as part of completing the course and it was there that I finally met
the same people I met online in PIDrU (Dr. Philip Ng and Dr. Tony Sajul). They
truly are the most wonderful, kind and supportive people ever!!! I could not
have been happier and luckier to have met them! Right after my placement was
done and I received my diploma I got a call from the President of the school who
is the owner as well. She asked me to work with them...........I accepted.

I have been here less than a year. I have been in Canada 11 months on the 17th
of April. I am a Plastic Surgeon who has trained as well in Internal Medicine.
I too finished Law. This is all back home and I was doing well in my practices
and money was never a problem. I left for probably the same reasons most of you
have---- our children. Now the same school I went to to "upgrade" took me in as
Faculty Member and part Admin. I did not apply I was called by the President of
the school. I do not say this to "make-yabang" NO NOT AT ALL! I was at the
point before that I thought I had just thrown my life away and all that I worked
for. It is true that God never takes you to the point where you start crying
blood (dramatic? yeah but true). Then all of a sudden things started to change
for the better. It is not the best until you become who you are, we still are
all physicians, but I am not complaining.

I know it is hard for some of you, it still is for me, maybe alot of you want to
quit. DONT! You have the STRENGTH and the FAITH of a HEALER. If only that hang
on to it and move positively!

Take care all of you. Come to Robetech I will be there maybe I can help.

GOD BLESS YOU GUYS AND GOD SPEED!!!!

Bea( I am known as Maria Padua there)

Dear all: I am one of those ka-Pidru whose fortune hasn't arrive yet. Though I applied once in 2006 but failed to get in. I Currently work in one of the most prestigeous downtown toronto hospital as Research Coordinator (proud to say) that gives me opportunity to explore the interesting world of clinical research and the chance of working with people whom I only met in our medical text books long before. Medical practice is still at the back of my mind, and it will never be out of my mind. However, realities in life sets in, priorities that we chose the moment we decided to stay and live here in Canada. These are facts of life. If I may say once again as we often hear from Ben,Arnell, Lani, Bong n Chi, et al. "Never lose hope in finding the right path, sooner or later you will be there working as a medical practitioner".- Carlos
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Mga ka-PIDrUs:

Magandang umaga po sa lahat. Please do not be discouraged about the
challenges of the PA program. The flaw is in implementing the program.
Although it is true that it is not feasible for a family MD to hire a PA
(as explained by Eve), there are family health teams that get extra
funding from the ministry to allow them to hire PAs and NPs (nurse
practitioners). Unfortunately the openings are probably not within the
GTA. Also, the PA program does not only affect IMGs but everyone
(including Canadians) who graduated in the program. My friends this is
NOT the only career path. There are many others.

Being a medical graduate allows for flexibility and adaptability. Many
of our ka-PIDrUs are working in sleep clinics, respirology clinics,
clinical research, chelation clinics, renal clinics, central
laboratories, education, med reps. Most of these jobs do not require
going back to school. There are also those who have chosen a new career
altogether which may require going back to school or take online courses
for a few weeks or months, i.e. nursing, physiotherapy, laboratory
technologists, clinical research associates etc.

These jobs are lucrative - both financially and professionally. Although
some people work in these jobs "temporarily" while working on getting
to residency, many have made the switch and remained there permanently.
Many have flourished, succeeded and have become experts in their fields
of work.

If no opportunity come your way, make way for your own opportunity! Do
not be discouraged. Join PIDrU in one of our bi-annual gatherings to
hear some of the stories.

Mabuhay ka Pilipinong manggagamot! Nasa sa iyo ang tagumpay!