An innovative, evidence based, longitudinal collaborative peer/faculty mentorship program for International Medical Graduate residents of the U of T Department of Medicine (DoM) was started in July 2012. This program, developed by Dr. Najeeb, addresses an unmet need related to the success and wellness of a large number of trainees from diverse backgrounds. The content and the format of the program is developed based on an earlier needs assessment study. The first session of the mentorship program is always a program specific orientation session. The collaborative model of this network of faculty-peers who share similar experiences and backgrounds, provides mentees with validation and practical tools for academic and clinical growth. The mentors found the act of ‘giving back’ very rewarding. Participation is not mandatory, yet 146 IMG residents (2012 - to date) have attended these sessions during their personal time and continue to participate as peer-mentors after their first postgraduate year. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from IMG residents led the Internationally Funded Trainees (IFTs) to request inclusion in the mentorship program, and they officially joined in 2017. The IMG mentorship program has served as the foundation upon which subsequent initiatives like the CaRMS Equity Working Group and the Black and Indigenous Resident and Mentorship Program were developed.
1. Najeeb U, Wong BM, Hollenberg E, Stroud L, Edwards S, Kuper A. Moving Beyond Orientations: A Multiple Case Study of Experiences of Canadian-born and Immigrant International Medical Graduates. Advances in Health Sciences Education. 2018 Aug 27:1 - 21. Print ISSN 1382-4996 Online ISSN 1573-1677. PMID: 30259266 Impact Factor 2.552. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-018-9852-z
2. Michie J. and Najeeb U. Virtual orientation for international medical graduates: A resident-led initiative. Medical Education. 2023 Nov;57(11):1146-1147. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.15221 Impact Factor 7.1 (Trainee publication).
3. Gutman A, Tellios N, Sless R, and Najeeb U. Journey into the Unknown: Considering the International Medical Graduate Perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic. Can Med Educ J. 2021 Feb 26;12(1): e89-e91. doi: 10.36834/cmej.70503. Available from: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/70503
4. Sless R, Hayward N, Ryan P, Kovacs-Litman A, and Najeeb U. Lessons from across the pond: Student perspectives on the Internal Medicine clerkship experience at an Irish and Canadian medical school. MedEdPublish: An Official AMEE journal. 2020 Jan 15. https://doi.org/10.15694/mep.2020.000016.1
5. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) - chapter 16. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Program Director Handbook. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; 2023. Available from: https://pdhandbook.royalcollege.ca/3064/ Principal Author: U. Najeeb, co-author: S. Akinola
