The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan tracked a cohort of 39 international medical graduates (IMGs) in rural Saskatchewan and discovered that 51% left the province within five years (personal communication). A study by Basky, Mathew, Edwards, and Rourke (2007) found that half a cohort of IMGs in rural Newfoundland and Labrador left the province after 22 months. Literature suggests that a timely and welcoming orientation may reduce physician turnover (Thommasen, Berkowitz, & Gryzbowski, 2000; Skinner, 2004; Healthcare Facility Resource Center, 2007; Wendling-Aloi, 2003). The Division of Continuing Professional Learning, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan created an International Medical Graduate Program for physicians settling in Saskatchewan, consisting of a DVD, an orientation guide, and a two-day conference. Evaluation results showed that 75% of the respondents thought that the DVD should be given to future IMGs, 90% stated that the Guide should be given to future IMGs, and 96% indicated that the conference had greatly added to the knowledge they had gained from the DVD and Guide.
