How This Doctor Escaped Trauma And Found Hope in Canada (Ft. Dr. Olga Decker)
How I Moved My Medical Practice to Canada: A Conversation with Dr. Olga Decker
Welcome back to Interesting MD! I’m Dr. Rob Beck, your host, and today I want to share a remarkable story that has taken our medical community by storm. For all the physicians out there burned out by the current system, wondering if it’s too late to make a change, this post is for you. Join me as I recount my in-depth conversation with Dr. Olga Decker, Canada’s newest board-certified US internist, and get the real, step-by-step story of what it takes to move your medical career north of the border.
Why Canadian Medicine? A Search for Balance and Safety
Burnout among doctors isn’t just a buzzword—it’s real and growing. If you’re like me, you’ve likely felt the mounting pressures of ever-increasing patient loads, administrative hassles, and never-ending workdays. Dr. Olga Decker’s story resonated so deeply because her reasons for leaving the US—burnout, desire for a better work-life balance, and ensuring her children’s safety—mirror the feelings of so many in medicine today.
She shared a moment all too familiar to many of us: watching her kids play on a beautiful beach day while she was tethered to her computer, fielding patient messages. That realization—choosing between medicine and family just isn’t sustainable—sparked her journey north.
The Realities Behind the Move: Burnout, Family, and Safety
We spoke openly about the unique stressors American physicians face, from the emotional toll of gun violence to feeling like a “cog in the system.” Dr. Decker’s children practiced shooter drills at school—something no parent should find normal. Professionally, she watched her once-cherished work become a numbers game, where doctors were just another replaceable part.
But here’s the good news: things can change. There is a path forward where you and your family can feel safer and where medicine feels meaningful again.
Step-by-Step: How to Move Your Medical Career to Canada
Dr. Decker laid out in great detail how the move to practice medicine in Canada works, particularly in British Columbia (though this applies broadly across the country):
1. Start with Research and “Knocking on Doors”
Google is your friend. Look up medical jobs in Canada, check provincial portals, and survey social media groups for expat doctors.
Don’t be shy! Reach out. As Dr. Decker said, “If I was able to do it, anybody can do it. Reach out to colleagues—I’m happy to help!”
2. Health Match BC (and Other Provincial Platforms)
Register at Health Match BC and set up your profile.
Search jobs by region, specialty, and preferred work style (locum, part-time, full-time).
Each province has their own recruitment processes—Ontario, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and more have made great strides in supporting international medical graduates.
3. The Recruitment Process
You’ll get a recruiter—yes, a human!—to help you navigate opportunities and set up site visits.
Dr. Decker was flown out for a site visit, all expenses paid.
4. Licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons
Register with your chosen province’s College of Physicians and Surgeons (e.g., CPSBC for BC).
Upload your credentials: US board certification, licenses, residency certificates, passport, and more.
You can start the license process parallel to your job hunt, so don’t wait!
5. The Immigration Process
Once you secure a “letter of intent” from your employer, you’ll be assigned an immigration consultant through Health Match.
Gather necessary documents: FBI background check, immigration physical (with a few US sites able to perform this exam), and supporting paperwork.
You have the choice to process your work permit online (which can take ~9 months) or go directly to a Canadian border crossing or airport, where you can get your permit same-day (Dr. Decker got hers in Toronto in about an hour).
6. Move the Family (and the Dogs, and the Cat)
Spouses and children have accompanying work and study permits.
Provincial nominees are exempt from foreign buyers’ taxes, making home-buying much more affordable.
Local banks and schools are welcoming and understand the needs of relocating professionals.
7. Settling In: The Canadian Experience
Kamloops, BC welcomed Dr. Decker with open arms. Class sizes are smaller, schools are unlocked, and colleagues genuinely enjoy working together—and socializing after hours!
Even small things—like simpler car insurance or the novelty of seeing deer and bears—make for a unique, lower-stress atmosphere.
What’s Different… and Better?
Physicians find real balance. Sure, you’ll be busy, but most importantly you’re no longer a cog in the wheel. You’re part of a team that values professional fulfillment and your life outside the hospital. There’s a sense of being wanted and needed, not just tolerated.
The process of relocation can seem daunting—paperwork, notarized documents with signatures in just the right spot—but every hurdle has support. Health Match, the immigration consultants, even the banks and schools: all are set up to guide you through.
Real Talk: What’s Still Tough?
The move is expensive (think: cross-continental moving trucks and replacing cars).
Bureaucracy lives, even in Canada (tracking down old diplomas or working through signature details can be a pain).
Alcohol is expensive, and you’ll have to choose from a selection that may be very… Canadian.
Advice for Physicians Considering the Move
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably somewhere between burnout and bold decision. Take it from Dr. Decker (and me): Just do it. Start with that first email, that first application. Don’t be afraid to ask for help—colleagues like us are here to answer questions honestly. “There is help along the way. There are people who do want you here and I think it’s worth it,” says Dr. Decker.
Welcome to Canada—You’re Needed Here
If moving to Canada has ever crossed your mind, now is the time. The doors are open wider than ever for US-trained physicians. The process is easier, you’ll be treated with respect, and you’ll find a supportive community, both professionally and personally.
If you want advice, guidance, or just someone to talk to about your options, reach out! Email me (rob@interestingmd.com) or find me on YouTube and social media @InterestingMD. Your change could be life-changing—for you, your family, and your career.
Have you made the move or are you thinking about it? Drop a comment below or send me a message. Let’s support each other and keep the community growing.
Until next time, stay interesting!