Latest news with #Philopoulos
CBC
03-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
American doctors look to Nova Scotia amid Trump uncertainty
Nova Scotia's health authority says it has hired one doctor eager to leave the United States because of President Donald Trump, and is in talks with more than two dozen more. The authority launched a digital recruiting campaign in the U.S. in November, targeting physicians feeling uneasy about the election results. "We saw it as an opportunity with the election to remind folks and the leads that we have in the U.S. that we are here, ready and waiting for them should they wish to choose Nova Scotia to come practise here," said Katrina Philopoulos, the director of physician recruiting. Nova Scotia Health has been actively recruiting south of the border for years, but the new campaign led to 150 responses. "We have seen some in certain specialties that have decided that they're worried about how the changes in the U.S. will change their practice," Philopoulos said. The pool has been narrowed down to 27 serious negotiations, including one new hire. Philopoulos said that physician, a hospitalist, is expected to start at the end of the month. She won't say where they'll be located until they arrive. "That was a really quick turnaround," she said, adding that several other physicians have committed to doing locums, which are short-term contracts to fill in gaps. "I think boots on the ground, we expect to see some of those individuals sooner than later in the coming months." 'They're very embarrassed' In Elmsdale, N.S., John Philpott is hearing a similar message. He runs a private recruiting company, CanAM Physician Recruiting, which has contracts to hire international doctors across the country, but not in Nova Scotia. He told CBC's Information Morning Nova Scotia that his business is hearing from about 20 American physicians a day. "It's the frustration of the Trump administration. They're very embarrassed with the rhetoric and the lies that are coming out of the president of the United States." Philpott said he's been recruiting for 27 years, and said this is one of the busiest times of his career. "They're very serious, they're asking about citizenship and they're signing contracts." Philpott said it's too soon to say how many physicians will make the move, but he estimates it could be as high as 50 per cent of those he's had contact with. Nova Scotia Health is also banking on strong returns during this uncertainty. Philopoulos said their team will continue to reach out to new and old contacts in the States, including Canadians they know who are working there.
CBC
10-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Net gain: N.S. added nearly 200 more doctors than it lost last year
Nova Scotia recruited nearly 200 more doctors than it lost over the past year, say officials with the province's health authority. Katrina Philopoulos, the director of physician recruitment for Nova Scotia Health, told CBC's Information Morning Halifax the province's efforts have resulted in an overall net gain of 189 doctors since January 2024, representing the number of doctors added to the health-care system compared to the number that retired or left for various reasons. That's an increase of roughly 50 per cent over the previous year. Many of the new doctors have set up shop in the Halifax and Cape Breton regional municipalities, but others also chose to locate in less populated areas such as Yarmouth, Philopoulos said. "We really have physicians going everywhere in our province," she said. Among the new doctors, 45 were recruited to the eastern zone, including 27 in CBRM, said Sarah O'Toole, the physician recruitment consultant for that zone. Fourteen doctors left during the same time period, leaving the zone with a net gain of 31, Nova Scotia Health confirmed. Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, N.S., now has a full complement of anesthesiologists for the first time in a number of years, O'Toole told CBC's Information Morning Cape Breton. "It means that all of our operating theatres can be open and providing care to patients in Nova Scotia," she said. "It's been a few years since we've been able to have them all open like that." When asked whether the recruits would relieve pressure on the provincial registry for people seeking a primary care physician, O'Toole said some of the new doctors are replacing retiring family physicians. "We see our registry numbers and we know the needs are high in Cape Breton Regional Municipality and so our goal is focused on finding those providers that are interested in the office practice and interested in providing family medicine full scope." As of the beginning of February, 104,324 people in Nova Scotia were looking for a family doctor. Philopoulos said about 50 per cent of the province's recruits are graduates of Dalhousie University's medical school and roughly 30 per cent are international medical graduates.
