Healthcare language and communication is complex and nuanced. Health English Language Pro (HELP) creates partnerships between newcomer physicians and experienced volunteer physicians with a focus on helping newcomers practice medical terminology in English and familiarize themselves with Canadian healthcare communication and systems.

Partners practice medical scenarios and conversations supported by materials developed in consultation with Canadian physicians. HELP builds bridges between newcomer physicians and the Canadian healthcare system to help break down barriers faced by newcomer physicians and facilitate their integration into healthcare in Canada.

HELP program in the news: 

REGISTER - I'm a Canadian Physician who wants to volunteer
REGISTER - I'm a Newcomer Physician who wants to join HELP

Health English Language Pro (HELP) builds bridges between volunteer physicians and newcomer physicians so that newcomer physicians can practice medical terminology while developing knowledge of healthcare communication nuances and the inner workings of Canadian healthcare.

HELP will pair volunteer physicians with newcomer physicians to:

  • Focus on Healthcare Language and Communication: HELP emphasizes effective communication in healthcare settings through 12 one-to-one conversations, typically held once per week virtually or in-person.
  • Onboarding and Ongoing Support: HELP staff will walk through the full process of engaging in the program and be available to support you along the way.
  • One-to-One Supports: Pairing newcomer physicians with experienced volunteer physicians for personalized guidance and support.
  • Supportive Content: Leverage expert-reviewed conversation guides and medical cases to help you take part in productive conversations, while maintaining the freedom to branch off to other areas as needed.

 

The College of Family Physicians of Canada has highlighted the HELP program to retired family physicians. The HELP team has engaged with the Ontario Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada on opening new pathways for physicians to volunteer.

I'm a Canadian Physician who wants to volunteer with the HELP program

Make a meaningful impact and leave a lasting legacy by volunteering with HELP. Sharing your wealth of experience and insights with newcomer physicians can help them break down barriers to building careers in Canada. Join a community of distinguished Canadian physicians dedicated to supporting newcomer colleagues in their journeys to success. As a volunteer with HELP, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the integration and advancement of newcomer physicians while fostering professional connections and camaraderie within the medical community.

Connect with us HERE to learn more about how you can volunteer within the HELP program.

Health English Language Pro (HELP) can help you develop valuable insights into the Canadian healthcare system by connecting you with an experienced volunteer physician. You will have opportunities to gain familiarity with healthcare communication nuances and the inner workings of Canadian healthcare. HELP’s one-to-one approach enables personalized support tailored to your needs. Whether you’re aiming to better understand the Canadian contexts of medical practices or the cultural nuances of healthcare communication, HELP can put you into a better position to develop the tools and knowledge you need to thrive.

Connect with us HERE to learn more about the HELP program.

What is the main purpose of HELP?

HELP is a partnership that supports newcomer physicians in developing greater fluency in medical English. Proficiency in medical English is an essential first step towards gaining employment in healthcare in Canada. The partnerships that HELP develops build bridges between volunteer physicians and newcomer physicians while breaking down barriers for newcomer physicians’ success in Canada.

HELP is neither a broader mentoring program nor a job search program. Its unique focus is on building bridges between volunteer physicians and newcomer physicians to help newcomer physicians develop greater fluency in medical English. Newcomer physicians will use those skills along whichever path in healthcare they decide to follow in Canada.

HELP creates one-to-one matches between volunteer physicians and newcomer physicians. Once a volunteer physician has registered with HELP, they are partnered with a newcomer physician in a similar healthcare area whenever possible. For example, we aim to match family physicians with newcomer physicians who have experience as generalists prior to landing in Canada. Please remember that expertise in a specialist area is not essential.

HELP program staff will work closely with volunteer and newcomer physician partners to find convenient times to meet either virtually or in-person, and they will also provide onboarding and technical support to all participants.

HELP participants commit to meeting virtually for one hour per week over 12 to 16 weeks. Within that framework, the schedule is up to you and your partner. If mutually agreed upon, the partners can meet in-person or more frequently. Also, partners can decide to continue their sessions after the four-month commitment is over.

After their first match, volunteer physicians may decide to continue to participate in HELP. If so, they will be matched with another newcomer physician. Volunteer physicians are free to come in and out of the program in a way that best suits their schedule.

HELP has developed a library of modules, case scenarios for roleplay, and videos. We recommend using these as a starting point for your conversations. If those resources aren’t the best way for you and your partner to work together, you can mutually agree to do something different. We trust that partnering physicians will be able to identify areas of opportunity that meet their specific needs.

HELP program staff will also be available to support partners in navigating available resources, and HELP will regularly update and create new materials as needs are uncovered through the program. Remember, the main goal is to help newcomer physicians develop fluency and confidence in medical English.

HELP is designed to be as flexible as possible to accommodate the schedules of the participants. Volunteer and newcomer physicians are asked to commit to one hour per week over 12 to 16 weeks. Within that framework, the schedule is flexible and up to you and your partner to determine. If you need help with scheduling virtual meetings, HELP program staff can support in scheduling sessions (scheduling and virtual meeting links) when requested by the participants.

Newcomer physicians are not strictly looking for medical licensure.  

Some are, but others are also aiming to gain employment in another healthcare profession such as nursing, midwifery, research, radiology technician, or lab technician, to name a few. Others are interested in pursuing careers in clinical research or healthcare administration.

The goal of HELP is to support newcomer physicians on the essential step along whatever path they are following in healthcare in Canada through fluency in medical English.

Newcomer physicians who take part in the HELP project are expected to have general English proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark Level 6 or higher.

HELP is a volunteer initiative that is supported by ACCES Employment, a not-for-profit workforce development organization with substantial experience creating programs for internationally educated healthcare professionals. 

ACCES Employment provides the backbone support for HELP, ensuring that volunteers are supported as fully as possible. ACCES Employment leverages its strong community, service provider, and funder relationships to contribute to the success of HELP.

HELP uses a wide range of modules, case scenarios and other resources to support volunteer and newcomer physicians. You can review samples of these resources below:

Sample Section from Module
Sample Section from Case scenarios

Health English Language Pro is happy to provide access to videos produced by the Hire IEHPs project. Click here to watch their video about “Building a Business Case” for hiring IEHPs.