Physicians who choose to relocate to Nova Scotia from elsewhere in the world face significant financial barriers.
Financial help is available for internationally trained physicians (ITPs). The McCarthy/Stewart Foundation Grant provides a one-time grant of $10,000 to up to 10 successful applicants each year.
Eligibility
To be considered for the grant, applicants must:
- be considered an internationally trained physician
- be licensed to practice family medicine in Nova Scotia
- have received a rural* family medicine letter of offer
- be within the first three years of practice in Nova Scotia
- wish to continue practising in Nova Scotia long-term
* This grant is intended to support physicians practicing in underserved areas. Applications from Central Zone will not be considered except for applications from rural communities within Central Zone including Hants County, Sheet Harbour, Musquodoboit Harbour and Musquodoboit Valley.
A selection committee will evaluate applications based on factors including:
- identified financial need
- intention to practise in Nova Scotia long-term
- practise area
Recipients of the grant must provide banking information and they must participate in the program evaluation to help inform future grant application processes.
About the grant
Dr. Graham Stewart was an internationally trained physician who joined the Nova Scotia healthcare system from Scotland and faced many challenges in the transition to practice in this province. The McCarthy-Stewart foundation, established by Dr. Stewart's late wife, Julia McCarthy, in memory of her husband, aims to support ITPs in their transition to practice by lessening monetary barriers. The grant also addresses major gaps in NS primary healthcare delivery by supporting physicians practising in traditionally underserved areas. The grant launched in 2022.
The 2026 application process will open in August 2026.