News
WEBINAR: Preparing for practice in Canada – Ethical and cultural perspectives for IMGs and ITPs
February 4, 2026
A practical conversation on Canadian competencies beyond clinical knowledge.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Time (ET)
International medical graduates (IMGs) preparing to take the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) exams and to practise in Canada can struggle to understand Canadian cultural expectations and professional ethics. From patient-centred communication, Indigenous cultural safety, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), to navigating patient confidentiality, informed consent, and professional boundaries, IMGs are expected to know how to navigate a variety of issues that may feel unfamiliar and ambiguous — and for which there is no specific training.
On February 24 at 4:00 p.m., ET, join Dr. Armand Aalamian, executive director, Safe Medical Care and EDI with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), Dr. Lucy Shantel Nakibuuka, manager of the Policy, Advocacy, and Research Committee with Internationally Trained Physicians of Canada (ITPC), and Dr. Filipe Santos, IMG consultant, MCC, as they unpack common knowledge gaps and misunderstandings, share examples of ethics applications in the MCC exams and real world practice, and direct the audience to credible resources to build confidence in these core competencies.
If you are unable to attend live,
register to automatically receive a recording by email following the event.
What you will learn:
‒ The kinds of ethical and cultural issues you need to understand to successfully practise medicine in Canada
‒ How ethics and cultural cues are a foundational topic for your clinical knowledge
‒ How others have navigated these challenges
‒ About the free MCC resources and other credible learning materials
This free webinar will be hosted in English. A recording with French translation will be available after the event.
AI-generated, unverified translation will be available during the event.
Session participants:
Dr. Armand Aalamian, Executive Director, Safe Medical Care and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
Dr. Aalamian is a nationally recognized leader in medical education in Canada. Prior to joining the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), Dr. Aalamian spent two decades with McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine as an associate professor and held a number of leadership roles, including associate dean of Postgraduate Medical Education and Family Medicine Program director. In addition to his work in medical education, Dr. Aalamian has practised medicine for over 30 years, holding various positions such as chief of Mental Health Services with CSSS de la Montagne Community Clinics and chief medical consultant at the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization. He has substantial experience in collaborating with national and international medical education stakeholders and, as an accomplished leader, has promoted safe medical care, cultural humility, equity, diversity, and inclusion within health care organizations.
__________
Dr. Lucy Shantel Nakibuuka, Manager, Policy, Advocacy and Research Committee, Internationally Trained Physicians of Canada (ITPC)
Dr. Lucy Shantel Nakibuuka is an internationally trained physician with over 10 years of experience in primary care and primary care dermatology. She obtained her undergraduate medical degree from Makerere University, Uganda, her postgraduate training in Primary Care Dermatology from Cardiff University, Wales, and a Master of Public Health from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dr. Nakibuuka serves on the management team of the Internationally Trained Physicians of Canada (ITPC), where she leads the Policy, Advocacy, and Research Committee. Her work at ITPC focuses on health research, health equity, workforce integration of internationally trained physicians, and advancing patient-centred care within the Canadian health care system.
__________
Dr. Filipe Santos, IMG Consultant, Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
Dr. Filipe Nadir Caparica Santos is a Brazilian-Canadian anesthesiologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, where he also serves as Simulation lead and Fellowship coordinator in the Department of Anesthesia at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto. After completing his MD, residency training, and a PhD in Pharmacology in Brazil, Dr. Santos moved to Canada in 2017, where he pursued additional postgraduate training and earned a Master of Science in Community Health from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Drawing from his personal experience as an internationally trained physician, he is deeply committed to advocacy and mentorship in medical education and licensure. He is also the author of the eBook Physician Licensing in Canada.
__________