Ontario Needs Family Doctors. Hollingsgate Delivers Them.

Physician Pathway Ontario (PPO), operated by Hollingsgate, connects Ontario clinics with qualified, exam ready international family physicians through the CPSO provisional pathway managing every step from sourcing to supervised practice start.

How We Work Together.

A Structured Pathway. A Clear Process.

1. Physician Identification & Screening

We source internationally trained family physicians from key recruitment markets and assess each candidate against the provisional pathway eligibility requirements.  Only family physicians who meet all core criteria move forward in the process. Clinics only receive fully qualified, pre-screened candidates - and PPO stays in the process long after the introduction is made.

2. Readiness Assessment

Every physician is assessed nd assigned a readiness status and are supported throughout the readiness process, including verifying background checks, exams, and immigration visa coordination.  Physicians are not charged for any services whatsoever. Full details of our readiness criteria are available in the Clinic Program Overview.

3. Clinic Matching & Interview

We match physicians to clinics based on clinical fit, geography, and supervision capacity. We prepare both the clinic and physician for a productive interview. Any offer of employment is conditional on CPSO approval of the specific supervised practice arrangement.

4. Supervised Practice Begins

Once a conditional offer is in place, PPO coordinates all regulatory and immigration steps through to confirmed approval. We sequence the CPSO supervised practice application, supervision plan, and work permit process in parallel. Practice begins only after both CPSO approval and work permit issuance are confirmed.

Why Clinics Work With Us

  • Access to pre-screened, practice-ready physicians
  • Reduced administrative burden and regulatory uncertainty
  • Clear sequencing across CPSO and immigration processes
  • No speculative recruiting - every candidate is verified
  • Interview preparation and facilitation included
  • IRCC Employer Portal offer submission - we guide the clinic through every step
  • No obligation or fee until supervised practice begins
  • Clinic retains full decision-making authority throughout

A Measured, Compliant Approach to Physician Recruitment

Physician Pathway Ontario operates within established regulatory frameworks and does not guarantee licensure outcomes. Our role is to support alignment, readiness, and process sequencing—so clinics and physicians can move forward with clarity and confidence.

Ontario’s Primary Care Challenge

Ontario faces a sustained shortage of family physicians, driven by population growth, physician retirements, reduced clinical hours, and limited domestic training capacity. Millions of Ontarians lack access to longitudinal primary care, increasing pressure on emergency departments, hospitals, and specialist services.


Addressing this gap requires scalable, compliant, and long-term physician capacity solutions - not short-term stopgaps.

Key System Realities

  • Growing patient populations without consistent access to longitudinal primary care
  • An aging family physician workforce approaching retirement
  • Limited domestic supply of newly trained family physicians
  • Increasing administrative and supervisory burden on existing clinicians
  • Limited domestic supply of newly trained family physicians
  • Structured, compliant, clinic-first engagement

A Structured, Regulated Solution

Physician Pathway Ontario focuses on:


  • Regulatory alignment with CPSO and federal immigration frameworks
  • Physician readiness screening before clinic introduction
  • Clear role delineation between clinics, supervising physicians, and regulatory bodies
  • Sequenced engagement, reducing risk and uncertainty for all parties


The program supports informed decision-making at each stage - without obligating clinics or physicians until regulatory and clinical requirements are satisfied.

(Disclaimer under map) Based on public reporting from Ontario Health, HealthForceOntario, ICES, and the Ontario College of Family Physicians.

As a result, Ontario’s healthcare system relies on internationally trained physicians as a permanent and necessary part of its primary care strategy.

Two Questions Clinics Commonly Asked

  • How do we know a physician is viable before we interview?

    We do not present physicians for interview unless core regulatory requirements have already been met. 


    Before any interview: · 


    • The required national medical qualifying exam has been successfully completed 
    • English language requirements are met and valid 
    • All required credentials have been formally verified through the official credentialing system
    • The CPSO file is active with no identified regulatory barriers 
    • Training and experience align with generalist / family practice under supervision 

    Interviews may proceed. Any offer of employment is conditional.

  • What happens if CPSO does not approve the supervised practice?

    Supervised practice approval is issued only after CPSO reviews a clinic-specific supervision plan. 


    If CPSO does not approve:  


    • The physician does not begin practice 
    • The clinic is not obligated to proceed 
    • No employment relationship is formed 
    • Immigration steps do not advance 

    Clinics are not financially or contractually committed until CPSO approval is granted and the physician’s Canadian work permit has been issued.

Request an Exploratory Clinic Discussion