Bringing Global Experience to Local Care

For Drs. Faisal Saleem and Saher Rafiq, moving to Canada represented more than a change in scenery. It was an opportunity to continue growing professionally while finding a workplace and community where relationships, collaboration and the “human touch” remained at the heart of their work. Now, as psychiatrists at Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), Drs. Saleem and Rafiq are drawing on their diverse clinical experience to make a difference in the lives of our patients and families. 

Finding Their Calling 

Husband and wife, Drs. Saleem and Rafiq both began their medical careers in Pakistan before moving to Ireland to continue their training in psychiatry. 

“We left Ireland because it is a small country, making it difficult for two people to get training within a commutable area,” recalls Dr. Saleem. “Our options were for one of us sacrifice our dreams of pursuing further education, or we move to a larger country that offered more opportunities.”  

Their careers took them to Cambridge, England, where Dr. Saleem completed further speciality training in general adult psychiatry and endorsement in liaison psychiatry, while Dr. Rafiq completed her additional training in learning disability psychiatry. 

The decision to eventually make another international move was not made lightly. 

“We had initially chosen to move to England over Canada because we were apprehensive about moving so far away from home,” says Dr. Saleem. 

Over time, however, friends who had made the move from Ireland and England to Canada began sharing their experiences. 

“They shared positive experiences about the work environment and lifestyle in Canada, which gave us the motivation to consider making the move ourselves,” he shares. 

 After years of working within England’s National Health Service (NHS), they were also looking for a different kind of professional experience. 

“The NHS helped us grow a lot, but we were missing the Irish working culture that still had that human touch,” says Dr. Saleem. “We wanted to feel more connected to our work and one another, and we felt that Canada would be similar based on what we were hearing from our friends.” 

Embracing a New Chapter at BCHS  

Their journey to Canada began with a memorable arrival — landing on Christmas Day in the middle of winter. 

“The transition to Canada was a learning curve for us,” says Dr. Rafiq. “We have two kids, aged 12 and 8, who were adapting alongside us with our first Canadian winter, a new area, new people, new school and work, so it took us three or four months to feel settled.” 

What made that transition easier was the support they received from colleagues. 

“Lebené Numekevor (Director, Medical Affairs) played a very major and supportive role,” they recall. “She went above and beyond helping us with our role but also informed us of opportunities that are out there that may be of interest to us.” 

As they continue building their lives and careers in Canada, both physicians say the people around them have played an important role in making them feel welcomed. 

From practical guidance navigating life in Canada to support on their first days at work, they felt supported by the entire BCHS community especially the Mental Heal team. Specifically mentioning Drs. Singh and Khawaja along with Matthew Mutamiri, Clinical Manager of Inpatient Mental Health, as being foundational in helping them adapt to their new surroundings. 

“I was very anxious on my first day, but the nursing staff made me feel quite welcomed,” says Dr. Saleem. “The transition went smoother than expected, and I think the credit goes to the team.” 

For Dr. Saleem, what makes BCHS so special is its people. 

“The real strength is the people behind the teams,” he says. “I’ve found the mental health team to be a very close-knit family where everybody looks after one another.” 

Dr. Rafiq echoes that sentiment, describing the culture as one that reminds her of Ireland. 

“It’s not only about the clinical work, but also about the human touch — checking in with each other,” she says. “These relationships take a lot of the pressure off you sometimes, so I really love working here.” 

The couple also chose BCHS because of its community-hospital setting and connection with McMaster University. With postgraduate training in health management and medical education, as well as teaching experience at Cambridge University, they were eager to find a community where they could continue their passion for teaching. Dr. Saleem is currently an assistant professor at McMaster University and hopes to expand his involvement by applying for the psychiatry training residency. 

Life Beyond Medicine 

Outside of work, the couple enjoys travelling and exploring with their children. Recent adventures have included Iceland, Québec and Blue Mountain, with more local adventures on the horizon. 

For Dr. Rafiq, settling into Canada has also meant making space for something she had put aside during the demands of her career: reading. 

“I was an avid reader before the kids, so now that they are growing up, I thought maybe I’d try and get back into it,” she says. “There are plenty of books on my side table just waiting for me.” 

And for Dr. Saleem, there is another goal on his radar — earning his private pilot’s licence. 

“I like flying,” he says. “I’ve flown a few times before, so hopefully when things slow down, this is something I can continue to pursue here.” 

For two experienced physicians who have already built careers across three countries, their Canadian chapter is still just beginning — and they are looking forward to continuing to learn, teach, explore and contribute to the community they now call home. We are fortunate to have them as part of TeamBCHS.