From global training to Canadian advocacy
Joanna Walters (MPH ’21) is an internationally trained physician who completed her undergraduate medical training in the Caribbean and practiced as a general practitioner in Jamaica for four years before pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at Waterloo. This program led to her doing a social justice elective course, marking the start of her advocacy journey.
During the second year of this program, she co-founded an NGO called Internationally Trained physicians of Ontario (ITPO) and led the policy, advocacy and research committee until 2024. In this role, she worked on research and policy proposals to advocate for equitable opportunities for internationally trained physicians (ITPs) in Canada which ultimately contribute to equitable healthcare for all citizens.
She went on to complete family medicine training at Western University between 2023 and 2025 and is now a licensed family physician in Ontario. She is currently completing a one-year fellowship in Family Medicine Oncology at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario. She continues to advocate for ITPs via various roles and provides one-on-one support during their licensure process.