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GLACE BAY, N.S. —

Bill MacPherson admits his dream of practising medicine in Cape Breton is dimming.

The Glace Bay native has shown a pattern of perseverance in his life as he pursued new professional challenges, but the thing he wants most — a medical residency — has eluded him since he obtained his medical degree two years ago.

MacPherson believes the main obstacle to fulfilling his dream is the fact that he is an international medical graduate.

“It’s disheartening and very disappointing … How much more can you go on? The longer it takes for you to get a seat, the lesser your chances are,” MacPherson said.

“As an IMG (international medical graduate), we’re always considered lesser.”

MacPherson’s journey to medical school was circuitous but is certainly inspirational in many ways. A junior high school dropout, he went to work at the local community hospital as a housekeeper where, through interacting with patients, he became increasingly interested in helping others. He started attending night school and obtained his GED while also completing a home nursing course. He continued to work to advance his skills and, after first becoming a licensed practical nurse, MacPherson eventually pursued a bachelor of science in nursing degree along with his wife, while their youngest daughter was only six months old. He completed that degree in only two years, while also working full-time as an emergency room nurse, by taking courses at three separate universities.

"My whole family is here, it’s not even like a return of service (agreement is required). This is my roots.” — Bill MacPherson

“I’ve very goal-oriented — when I want to do something, I set out and I accomplish it,” MacPherson said.

In addition to working as a nurse, he has worked as a nurse manager and as a nursing instructor at Cape Breton University. But he always wanted to pursue medicine.

“I said, ‘It’s time for me to bite the bullet,’” MacPherson said.

He ended up studying in the Caribbean at Saint James School of Medicine in Anguilla, later transferring his credits to Caribbean Medical University. He then performed all of his training in Chicago.

“It was an amazing eye-opener to live there for 16 months,” MacPherson said.

He then did several rotations locally.

MacPherson’s extensive resume package includes documentation confirming that he has passed evaluating and qualifying examinations to practise in Canada, as well as his medical school transcripts.

He has reached out to the directors of every residency program in Canada.

According to the Canadian Resident Matching Service, there are currently more than 200 residence spots open in Canada.

MacPherson believes the three decades he has spent in the nursing field would make him a better doctor.

“You’ve always got to be kind to your nurses because your nurses are going to save you … once a nurse, always a nurse,” he said.

These pursuits haven’t come without sacrifice by his family, MacPherson noted. In addition to being away from them as he pursued his medical degree, he said he is now $305,000 in debt and their lives have been in a holding pattern as he’s sought a residency.

One of the residencies for which MacPherson applied but was not selected was in Inverness. It hasn’t yet been filled. He said he knows some people may question why he hasn’t been successful in getting a residence spot if he’s qualified, given the doctor shortage the region is facing.

“I have a medical degree and all I need is a residency to practise locally,” MacPherson said. “My whole family is here, it’s not even like a return of service (agreement is required). This is my roots.”

In the meantime, MacPherson is currently working as an RN at the IWK emergency department in Halifax. Should he be unable to match with a residency, MacPherson believes his future will lie in teaching in the nursing field.

nancy.king@cbpost.com

Bill MacPherson

Hometown: Glace Bay

Family: Wife, Janet; daughters, Rebecca and Libby.

Selected educational background: Master of adult education (Yorkville University, currently pursuing), Caribbean Medical University (Doctor of medicine, 2017), Bachelor of science in nursing (St. F.X., 2004), Sydney City School of Nursing (1991); Has completed rotations in cardiology, ophthalmology, emergency medicine, surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, radiology.

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