Nova Scotia Partners with Lebanese Universities to Recruit More Family Doctors

Nova Scotia is working with two universities in Lebanon to bring more family doctors to the province.

The Province and Lebanese American University in Beirut have signed a memorandum of agreement outlining a five-year pilot program that will see 10 ready-to-practise family physicians come to Nova Scotia, two in each year of the agreement.

The government also has a strong relationship with Lebanon’s American University of Beirut. It has already supported two physicians trained there who are now practising in Nova Scotia, with another set to arrive shortly.

“We have doctors who want to make Nova Scotia their home, and we have opportunities to help them do what they do best – provide care to patients,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “These partnerships will further strengthen ties between our province and Lebanon and create a unique opportunity to bring highly skilled family physicians to Nova Scotia.”

The government has been working with the Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Halifax and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia to support doctor recruitment from Lebanon.

The Province will invest $5 million over the length of the agreement with Lebanese American University, covering expenses related to funding two medical school residency positions each year, licensing exams, and immigration and relocation costs. The doctors will be required to sign a three-year return-of-service agreement.

Becoming a magnet for health providers is the first solution in Action for Health, the Province’s plan to improve healthcare.

Quotes:

“This initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when governments, institutions and communities come together with purpose. By tapping into the strength and talent of our diverse society, we are not only addressing urgent healthcare needs, but also building a more inclusive, resilient and compassionate Nova Scotia.”
— Wadih Fares, Honorary Consul of Lebanon in Halifax

“When a government and an institution unite with a shared vision, they transform ambition into lasting impact. The common good becomes the common goal.”
— Dr. Kamal Badr, Executive Vice Dean, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut

“At the heart of this collaboration is something deeply human: the need for care, and the people who provide it. Family doctors are the backbone of any healthcare system, and the growing need for them is felt around the world. Partnerships like this remind us that when collaboration is driven by purpose, medicine knows no borders.”
— Dr. Sola Aoun Bahous, Dean and professor of medicine, Lebanese American University

“This agreement not only recognizes the excellence of family medicine training at the Lebanese American University, it also reflects the extraordinary strength of the Lebanese-Nova Scotian community and the willingness of the provincial government to invest in innovative solutions to our access to care challenge.”
— Dr. Gus Grant, Registrar and CEO, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

• the partnerships stem from a 2023 recruitment mission to Lebanon and meetings with Lebanese American University and American University of Beirut
• the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia has a streamlined licensure process for Lebanese physicians
• Lebanese American University and American University of Beirut are accredited American universities; graduates are ready to practise in Nova Scotia as if they had been educated in the United States
• Nova Scotia welcomed 253 new doctors between April 2024 and March 2025, a net gain of 187 doctors; 32 per cent were internationally trained

Additional Resources:

Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/