I recently spoke with an internationally trained physician who passed all her licensing exams. Brilliant diagnostician and a fluent English speaker.
But in her first clinical encounters in Canada, something felt off.
Patients seemed hesitant. They’d nod but then ask the same question again. Some requested a “second opinion” for routine matters. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong.
The problem wasn’t her medical knowledge. It wasn’t even her English.
It was the unwritten rules of Canadian patient communication:
- The expectation that doctors will use analogies, not technical terms.
- The cultural norm of “explaining a procedure out loud” that Canadian patients expect.
- How “small talk” at the beginning of an appointment isn’t wasted time. It’s trust-building that makes patients more honest about symptoms.
An overseas medical school might not have taught this. When internationally trained physicians don’t know these unwritten rules, it can affect patient trust and career progression.
That’s why I created ITP Communication Mastery. It’s not another English course, but specialized coaching in the cultural and communication patterns that help internationally trained doctors thrive in Canadian practice.
If you’re an ITP who is clinically excellent but feeling like something’s missing in patient interactions, I’d love to talk.
