The GP who helped hundreds of IMGs gain Fellowship

Soon after Dr Farooq Ahmad moved to South Australia from South Africa, he began studying towards his RACGP Fellowship.
 
He soon found juggling his studies and working in a small town to be something of an isolating experience, and it was difficult to access support at the time.
 
So Dr Ahmad and his friends, who were also international medical graduates (IMG), pooled their money and brought in an examiner to give them mock exams. Even after he gained Fellowship in 2004 and later moved to Adelaide, the experience stuck with him.
 
Dr Ahmad became a general practice supervisor and RACGP examiner. And, from 2005, he started running mock exams at his practice twice a year, focusing on helping IMGs.
 
‘I saw the need, and then just carried on,’ Dr Ahmad told newsGP. ‘Most times it’s free or a nominal fee, to make sure people can attend it.’
 
Thirteen years later, Dr Ahmad has seen hundreds of IMGs attain Fellowship – the last crop just last week.

‘It’s my passion to help them. That’s the reason I do it,’ he said. ‘I see them now as college examiners – a lot have moved up the ranks, taken up positions on boards or become GP supervisors, educating others.


Dr Farooq Ahmad watched with pride as the latest crop of doctors were among those who officially attained their RACGP Fellowship in Adelaide last month.

‘At the [Fellowship] award ceremony, I saw the IMGs getting Fellowship. They were happy and excited. It was such a good feeling.’
 
From next year, the RACGP will roll out its Practice Experience Program (PEP), a major new program designed to help non-vocationally registered doctors to attain Fellowship.
 
‘Once it becomes more structured, with everybody on the same playing field, that’s a good thing,’ Dr Ahmad said.
 
For his work helping IMGs to achieve Fellowship, Dr Ahmad was awarded RACGP SA&NT McCleave/Thompson Award in 2007. He also sits on the state board as the IMG representative.
 
And he has no plans to stop any time soon.
 
‘The satisfaction I get when I see [IMGs attain Fellowship], it’s a good feeling to think I was involved in their journey, even if it was just a little bit,’ he said. ‘A good feeling to see them succeeding.’

GP training IMGs international medical graduates