The sculpture titled “The Golden Boy” tops the exterior of the Manitoba Legislature is seen in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
The Manitoba government says it has recruited 13 U.S.-trained physicians to practise in communities across the province.
Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced the update on Friday, noting the new recruits build on what the province calls a historic increase of 285 doctors added to Manitoba’s health-care system in 2025.
The province says the additional physicians, along with the launch of the medinav.ca online booking system, helped facilitate nearly 50,000 patient visits in 2025. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows Manitoba now has the highest rate in Canada for same-day or next-day access to a health-care provider.
One of the new recruits is Dr. Jesse Krikorian, a U.S.-trained family physician now working at Klinic Community Health in Winnipeg. Krikorian said practising in Canada allows him to focus more on patient care without the administrative burden of dealing with private insurance.
“Manitoba is a strong place to practise medicine right now because it respects physician autonomy, upholds human rights and the lifestyle that this province affords is excellent,” Krikorian said, in a release.
Physician recruitment is being led by Manitoba’s Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office, which supports international doctors through licensing, immigration and community placement. The province says a total of 58 physicians, including internationally trained doctors, have now been placed in communities across Manitoba through the program.
Watch Friday’s news conference:
