RBC’s transformational support helps newcomer physicians like Dr. Eddy reclaim their careers in Canada

Dr. Eddy came to Canada as a refugee after political instability in Nicaragua made it unsafe for him and his family to stay. He had spent nearly a decade practicing medicine, but once in Canada he was told the path back to his profession would be “very, very difficult, almost impossible.”

The licensing system was unfamiliar. Residency spots for internationally trained physicians were limited. And without financial resources, the high cost of exams and preparation stood between him and the work he was born to do. “When we came to Canada, we didn’t have the financial resources for the process. It was very expensive,” he says.

Finding out about Windmill Microlending, a national charity that helps internationally trained professionals reclaim their careers in Canada, was a turning point. With the help of a low-interest loan and coaching, Dr. Eddy finally had a path forward.

That support allowed him to pay for his reaccreditation exams and navigate the complex steps toward licensure. It gave him something even deeper too: belief that his dream was still possible.

Today, Dr. Eddy is a second-year family medicine resident, training at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary and caring for patients across the city. “I am a doctor. I always feel like a doctor,” he says. “I am in the hospital, restarting my career. It’s like a dream for me.”

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The impact extends far beyond his own career. After four years of instability, his family finally feels grounded. “For our personal and mental and spiritual stability, it is something excellent for us,” he says. “We are more integrated in the Canadian community now.”

Stories like Dr. Eddy’s illustrate the medical talent Canada risks losing without support — and why RBC’s recent $5 million grant is so transformative. This is Windmill Microlending’s largest corporate donation in healthcare to date. It will empower 850 internationally trained physicians with the financing, coaching, mentorship and guidance they need to return to practice.

This support comes at a pivotal moment. Healthcare labour shortages are growing across the country as millions of Canadians struggle to find a family doctor. Internationally trained physicians want to help meet that need, but financial barriers hold many back. RBC’s grant directly help addresses that gap, opening the door for more newcomer doctors to restart their careers and care for communities nationwide.

“I want to say thank you to all the donors because you are making this possible for people like me,” Dr. Eddy says.

With collaborators like RBC, Windmill can help ensure more physicians like Dr. Eddy rebuild their careers — and more Canadians access the care they need.

As we celebrate 20 years of impact, your support will fuel Windmill’s next chapter. Every donation creates opportunities for newcomers to rebuild their lives and help contribute to Canada’s future success.

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