Opportunities Ontario: Attracting Exceptional Talent
Transcript for “Opportunities Ontario: Attracting Exceptional Talent” Video
Dr. Therapondos: My name is George Therapondos and I work in the liver transplant program of the University Health Network. The multi-organ transplant program is helping people with advanced organ failure.
Dr. Levy: The multi-organ transplant program here at the University Health Network is the largest transplant program in Canada. We provide long-term care for about 9,000 transplant patients.
Dr. Therapondos: The process of settling in Canada for me was relatively easy. I mean, it's never easy to move countries and uproot your family. I originally came on a temporary workers permit which was renewed a couple of times but then I was given the opportunity to apply for this program that allowed me to become a permanent resident.
Dr. Levy: We knew that Opportunities Ontario was a vehicle to allow us to recruit individuals of exceptional talent from outside of Canada to join the medical staff, and transplantation is an example where we have benefited tremendously from this program. We were very fortunate to be able to recruit Dr. Therapondos and approximately 40% of our program actually consists of individuals like Dr. Therapondos.
Dr. Therapondos: Opportunities Ontario has worked very well for me. It has removed the need for renewing my visa every year.
Dr. Levy: Because of the nature and stature of transplantation medicine, this has been a very nice route for us to grow our program and attract the best and brightest people to help us provide exemplary care.
Dr. Therapondos: It obviously has given me the rights that one has as a permanent resident to live in Ontario as well.
Dr. Levy: So we find Opportunities Ontario an excellent program. Very easy to work with. When we have needs, we contact them. We understand the process that needs to be taken. They're there to answer our questions; to help us fill out the forms. We have been able to recruit a large number of individuals of exceptional talent through this innovative program of Ontario.
Dr. Therapondos: I think living in Canada is a great opportunity. It's a great country and I think it's one of the friendliest and easiest places to live in the world.
