Dr. Leisha Hawker (MD’11) of Halifax, N.S., was installed as Doctors Nova Scotia’s President during the association’s virtual annual conference earlier this month (June 2022). “I am passionate about health equity and improving the health-care system and the physician environment in Nova Scotia,” said Dr. Hawker.

Emergency rooms are stretched beyond capacity, with some forced to close, as a result of problems that include a major shortage of health care staff, a resurgence of viruses and a lack of available beds in hospitals and long-term care.

Global’s Eilish Bonang sits down with general practitioner, Dr. Yinka Akin-Deko, to talk about the high rates of Melanoma diagnosis in the Maritimes and her focus on educating and supporting those in the Black community about the risks associated with the skin cancer.

After seeing the success of one physician’s initiative to mentor international doctors who come to Nova Scotia, Doctors Nova Scotia is working to develop its own initiative. Dr. Emmanuel Ajuwon has taken the lead to help recruits get settled in because he knows there can be many adjustments, both personally and professionally, when relocating to another continent.

Nova Scotia is in a battle to recruit and retain health-care workers needed to sustain a system that has been under immense pressure over the past two years due to COVID-19.

Dr. Leisha Hawker, President Doctors Nova Scotia speaks about the doctor shortage.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston conceded Thursday things are likely to get worse for the health-care system before they improve. This comes days after Halifax's IWK Health Centre revealed its emergency department has been operating at overcapacity for the past six weeks, as it's seeing more patients than ever and it's anticipating it will get worse.