Ten new International Medical Graduates recruited to PMH

*Dr. Abdulatif Balogun and Dr. Porimol Debnath. Both accepting new patients in Russell*.

Physician recruitment efforts continue within the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region, with 10 new international physicians working in various communities this fall. Collaborating with the Province and community partners, PMH continues to strategically enhance access to physician and primary care services within the Region by utilizing education and assessment streams through the provincial Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (MLPIMG) and Practice Ready Assessment for Manitoba Family Practitioners (PRA-MB FP).

The one-year MLPIMG Program and three-month PRA-MB FP programs help foreign-trained doctors obtain their medical license to practice as family physicians in rural Manitoba. In return for regional sponsorship, doctors agree to practice in their respective communities for four years. The Program is supported by the University of Manitoba —Max Rady College of Medicine, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, the provincial Health Care Recruitment and Retention Office, and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care.

“During the past year, the region offered tremendous support and mentorship through these programs,” said Treena Slate, PMH CEO. “After much consideration, physicians who successfully graduated from the programs were placed at various sites within PMH communities that require additional physician resources.”

The newly recruited physicians for communities are:

Killarney
Dr. Shams Usman
Dr. Ola Usman

Minnedosa
Dr. Moazzam Raza
Dr. Karen Aquino

Carberry
Dr. Hanan Almanama (starts Sept. 14)

Dr. Shams Usman and Dr. Ola Usman standing in front of the Killarney Medical Clinic. — *Dr. Shams Usman and Dr. Ola Usman. Both accepting new patients in Killarney.*

Russell
Dr. Abdulatif Balogun
Dr. Porimol Debnath

Swan River
Dr. Osa Osadolor
Dr. Ola Fagbenro

Rossburn/Shoal Lake
Dr. Ana Hernandez

In 2025, eight new MLPIMG physicians were placed in the communities of Swan River (3), Roblin (2), Neepawa, Souris and Virden. In 2024, five MLPIMG physicians were placed in the communities of Deloraine, Grandview, Russell, Ste. Rose and Virden.

During the next rotation, which is already underway, PMH will continue to sponsor physicians entering assessment through the two international recruitment streams.