From Residency to Resilience: A Narrative of Happiness Among Immigrant Women Doctors in Canada


Natasha Shokri, University of Toronto

Recent studies affirm a significant link between the happiness medical staff, including doctors, and the quality of healthcare services rendered which directly influence the patient-doctor relationship. This dynamic, in turn, affects patient satisfaction and outcomes, serving as an indicator of hospital and physician success. Furthermore, it has been evidenced that the occupational well-being of physicians positively correlates with the quality of patient care delivered, underscoring the notion that happier doctors are pivotal in providing superior overall care. The dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship also emerge as a pivotal determinant in the mutual happiness and satisfaction of both parties, where positive interactions and trust are foundational. Studies have illuminated the intertwined nature of doctors perceived work conditions and their psychological well-being, underscoring a complex interplay with the caliber of care delivered. Programs aimed at increasing patient happiness, such as Dr. Happy, have demonstrated beneficial effects on hospital stays. While the investment in physician well-being offers both personal and fiscal advantages for healthcare institutions through the heightened efficiencies of happier physicians, this benefit stands in stark contrast to the realities exposed by The Happy Docs Study within the Canadian healthcare system. This study reveals the considerable stress and potential emotional and mental health adversities that resident physicians face during their training period.Top of Form The Canadian healthcare system is substantially bolstered by its immigrant workforce, with the 2016 Census data revealing that immigrants constitute approximately 20% of the physician population, accounting for around 28,000 individuals. Post-census, the influx of immigrant physicians has continued, with an additional 3,500 joining the Canadian healthcare sector. A similar trend is observed across other healthcare professions, where immigrants represent about 24% of the workforce, translating to nearly 300,000 healthcare professionals. These statistics underscore the critical role of the immigrant workforce in sustaining Canadas healthcare services. In this vein, the well-being of immigrant doctors in Canada, particularly women, becomes paramount. Research indicates that immigrants in affluent countries like Canada often grapple with subjective well-being assimilation challenges, with their happiness and life satisfaction indices trailing behind those of their native counterparts. This has profound implications for the health and well-being of immigrant doctor populations within the Canadian health system. A nuanced understanding and advocacy for the happiness of doctors is vital for the enhancement of their overall well-being and the consequent quality of care provision. Eventhough the impact of migration on the happiness have been subject of extensive research, non of these studies focused on the women immigrant doctors. Given the significant role that a doctors happiness plays in the quality of their service, which in turn impacts patient satisfaction and the happiness of medical outcomes, and considering the pivotal role played by immigrant women doctors in Canadian healthcare, their level of happiness and well-being is markedly underexplored. This paper seeks to address this gap through a phenomenological study rooted in conversations between a social justice educator and a medical doctor both of whom are immigrant woman. This dialogue-centered approach aims to distill the lived experiences of immigrant women medical doctors regarding their happiness, articulated through a narrative framework. The authors lived experiences will serve as a foundational case study to catalyze further research in this field.

Non-presenting author: Kawalpreet Kaur, Maharaja Agrasen Medical College

This paper will be presented at the following session: