How our clinics mentor and support restricted DVMs

• This is the second article of a three-part series. Click here to read the first piece.
• Restricted DVMs are veterinarians who have been practicing veterinary medicine outside of the country and are not yet fully licensed in Canada.
• In this 4-minute read, find out what restricted DVMs experience during their mentorship at VetStrategy and the impacts they’ve made on their team members.

As with welcoming any new team member, Practice Manager Tamara Bernier-Bland (St. Vital Veterinary Hospital, MB) had some apprehensions about onboarding Dr. Bijan Ziaieardestani, restricted DVM, to her team. Dr. Bijan is originally from Tehran, Iran but has worked and studied in many places including France, UAE, Spain, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

“We welcomed Dr. Bijan right in the middle of the pandemic. We had so many worries. Would we understand him? Would we be familiar with the kind of medicine he practices? But during the interview process we got to know him. He arrived, and he was so phenomenal and clicked with the team. He brought a world of experience and outside-of-the-box thinking,” she explained.

The restricted veterinarians undergo a mentorship process in Canadian veterinary medicine, with guidance from their mentor DVM and their support staff. On the other hand, the clinic can train and nurture the restricted DVM for the unique needs of their practice, all while benefiting from the new perspectives and approaches they bring from their home country.

“This allows us to expand on everything we do in many ways. We can diversify ourselves to serve more people in our communities and provide those opportunities to people who [need] them,” said Felicia Bernard, Practice Manager for restricted DVM Dr. Mina Mousapour (Chapman Mills & Nepean Animal Hospitals, ON).

 

It takes an average of two years for restricted DVMs to obtain their full Canadian license and in that time, they can make significant impacts on their VetStrategy team.

“Something I’ve noticed from the restricted DVMs that I have worked with is their desire to learn, and to provide gold-standard service in medicine. Dr. Mina, our recent restricted DVM for example, fit in right away and always made the extra effort to communicate effectively with clients.” shared Felicia Bernard, Practice Manager to restricted DVM Dr. Mina Mousapour (Chapman Mills & Nepean Animal Hospitals, ON).

“Our restricted DVM here, Dr. Vanessa Richa, has a keen interest in ultrasound and she sparked that interest with other DVMs in our team. She encouraged them to take an ultrasound course at Academie Daubigny. She even started treating exotic animals, which we didn’t do prior to her arrival. She is pushing us to get better and to do better,” highlighted Caroline Poitras-Hubert, Practice Manager to restricted DVM Dr. Vanessa Richa (Hôpital vétérinaire Anima-Plus Gatineau, QC).

Taking care of the rest for our clinics

The administrative tasks involved with onboarding a restricted DVM can be unfamiliar for clinics, but our Talent Acquisition team ensures a seamless process making sure everyone is supported through each step.

 

We work with DVMs who have already landed in Canada and obtained their Permanent Residency status as well as their restricted license on their own. Then, teammates like Serena Nashed, Global Mobility Specialist and former immigration attorney, help in many ways. They act as the main guide and coordinator between the restricted DVMS, VetStrategy clinics and Support Office, as well as various Provincial Licensing Bodies. They provide resources for our restricted DVMs and also equip our clinics with guides and best practices for onboarding.

“There’s a lot of paperwork that goes behind this and fortunately, VetStrategy truly takes care of all that for you,” described Christy Craig, Practice Manager for Dr. Chandini Shetty (Sechelt Animal Hospital, BC).

Paying it forward

Once they pass all their exams and become fully licensed to practice in Canada, the majority of our restricted DVMs become permanent employees at the VetStrategy clinic that welcomed them. It is not uncommon for them to become mentors themselves, helping other DVMs going through the same path. Read our third article, hear from the mentor veterinarians who work together with our restricted DVMs and dive into what inspires them to coach their colleagues as they work towards Canadian licensing.

How can restricted DVMs apply to work at our network?

They can apply to job posts directly on the VetStrategy website and/or send inquiries to careers@vetstrategy.com.