The Current Can American doctors solve BC’s healthcare woes?
Mar 19, 2026
Josie Osborne, BC’s Minister of Health, outlines a fast-track recruitment campaign. Dr. Rita McCracken, family physician and researcher, examines workforce limits and access concerns. Dr. Anne Herdman-Royal, U.S.-trained pathologist now in Nanaimo, recounts her licensure journey. They explore who is moving, credentialing speedups, rural stability and whether this really eases long-term access pressures.
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U.S. Pathologist Moved to Nanaimo After Political Disillusionment
- Dr. Anne Herdman-Royal moved from Tulsa to Nanaimo after Trump’s re-election because her family felt unsafe.
- She had a job lined up and says credentialing took her about 18 months but is now 6–12 months, making the move worthwhile.
Internationally Trained Physicians Already Form A Large Share
- About 25–30% of physicians in Canada trained internationally, so recruiting abroad is not new.
- Rita McCracken warns we need metrics to know impact and notes each new full-time family doctor can attach ~1,000 patients.
Reduce Requalification Barriers To Add Doctors Quickly
- Do examine and lower unnecessary requalification barriers so more international medical graduates can work here.
- McCracken suggests defining minimum appropriate qualification checks and fast-tracking applicants ready to practise.