U.S. Medical Professionals Seek Refuge in Canada to Evade Trump Policies
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Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Bluesky, Threads, Tumblr, Mastodon, Reddit, Pinterest, Messenger, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Email, Share, Canada saw a whopping 116 U.S.-trained docs move shop in Q1 2025
Written by Grit Battles According to KFF Health News
Dr. Michael, an American-born-and-bred ER doc, knew it was time to pack up and leave when he watched the Capitol gets stormed during Trump's reelection bid.
Michael's family made the move north to Canada, where he now works in a quaint townie hospital. With his new gig under the Canadian health care system, Michael's lifestyle is vastly different from his days treatingAmerica's sick under Trump's tumultuous regime. KFF Health News and NPR granted him anonymity, as he fears backlash from the Trump administration for speaking his truth.
"Americans have become so comfortable with violence and cruelty," Michael confessed. "And as a physician, I believe it's part of my job to be kind to the most vulnerable."
Since Trump's reelection and second term, U.S.-trained medics have shown a skyrocketing interest in setting up shop in Canada. Commerce Canada officials and recruitment businesses have noted an overwhelming increase in Americans seeking Canadian medical licenses.
The Medical Council of Canada noted a surge in American docs creating accounts on physiciansapply.ca, the first step to obtain a Canadian medical license, increasing by more than 750% over the last seven months – going from 71 applicants to 615! And that's not all, medical organizations in Canada's most populous provinces have reported a significant rise in American doctors either applying or receiving Canadian licenses, with some revealing they left due to Trump's administration.
John Philpott, CEO of CanAm Physician Recruiting, shared that the cross-border movement of American and Canadian doctors has varied over time in response to political and economic fluctuations, but this pull towards Canada has never been as strong as now. Philpott reported a 65% increase in American doctors looking for Canadian medical jobs between January to April, and the company has been contacted by up to 15 American doctors a day!
Rohini Patel, a CanAm recruiter and doc herself, informed that some doctors are ready to dive headfirst into their new Canadian jobs, without even considering pay cuts!
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario reported a massive 50% jump in the number of U.S.-trained doctors registering for licenses between Q1 2025. They also received license applications from about 260 U.S.-trained doctors in the first quarter of this year.
British Columbia, another populous province, saw a influx of applications from U.S.-trained doctors after the election. The province licensed 28 American docs during the fiscal year that ended in February - triple the amount of the previous year.
Quebec, another Canadian province, has also noticed an uptick in license applications from American docs, alongside the number of Canadian docs returning from the U.S. Despite not providing specifics, the College of Physicians revealed the motivation behind some of these applications: specifically, the Trump administration.
Trump's actions and rhetoric have unsettled many across the U.S., and the healthcare sector is no exception. Trump has jeopardized the economy, ignored court orders, ignored due process, and threatened U.S. allies, including Canada. He has also made controversial moves such as appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead federal health agencies, reducing funding for pandemic preparedness, discouraging gender-affirming care, demonizing fluoride, and supporting deep cuts to Medicaid.
Trump's administration declined to comment on the doctors leaving the U.S. for Canada. White House spokesperson Kush Desai asked whether KFF Health News had the exact number of doctors and their citizenship status, subsequently providing no further comment.
Canada, which offers universal publicly funded healthcare, has long been an appealing option for American doctors seeking an alternative to the American health care system. While it was once tougher for American doctors to practice in Canada due to differences in medical education standards, Canadian provinces have been easing up on regulatory barriers, and some are expediting licensing for American physicians.
- As political tensions rise in the United States, Canada's health and wellness sector, particularly the medical-conditions niche, has witnessed a remarkable increase in the migration of American-trained doctors, with science playing a significant role in their decision-making process.
- General-news outlets have reported a surge in U.S. doctors applying for Canadian medical licenses, with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario recording a 50% jump in Q1 2025 and British Columbia licensing 28 American doctors, triple the amount of the previous year.
- The politics surrounding Trump's administration have been a driving factor for this migration, as his controversial moves and decisions, such as appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead federal health agencies and discouraging gender-affirming care, have unsettled many American doctors and prompted them to seek alternatives in Canada's health care system.
