World leading physician assessment centre launched

Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence

To respond to the access to care crisis, the College launched the Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence (PACE) to identify internationally trained physicians suitable for licensure. Since its inception in February 2025, PACE has moved from foundational planning to full operational delivery, experiencing rapid growth, with two office-based primary care assessment centres now fully operational.

PACE’s strategy for physician licensure is unique and is attracting attention across Canada. Candidate physicians work in the on-site medical clinic, providing patient care while being directly observed, overseen, and evaluated by fully licensed physicians who are trained and accredited in the science of physician assessment. In partnership with the Medical Council of Canada, PACE employs cutting-edge tools and science to fairly and objectively assess the competencies necessary for independent licensure.

The access crisis is not limited to primary care. There are currently more than 40 vacancies for hospitalist positions in the province. In response, and in collaboration with Nova Scotia Health, PACE developed an assessment program for hospitalists. The hospitalist assessment program has been launched at Dartmouth General Hospital, with a second site coming in Truro.

By the end of 2026, PACE primary care clinics are on track to attach 6,500 patients, primarily drawn from the Need A Family Practice Registry. The target is to initiate 45 primary care assessments a year, along with 24 hospitalist assessments.

As of December 31, PACE has delivered eight primary care physicians to the College of Physicians and Surgeons with licensing recommendations. Five primary care physicians have begun practice in Nova Scotia, and eight assessments are currently ongoing.

Nova Scotia's Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence (PACE) is this year’s recipient of the Innovation in Physician Assessment and Remediation Award. Launched in February 2025, PACE provides primary care in a collaborative care setting delivered by internationally trained physicians under assessment for licensure. These physicians are overseen by experienced family physicians trained in assessment.

Conferred by the Coalition for Physician Enhancement (CPE), this award honours individuals or groups for innovation in the assessment of practising physicians. The award recognizes Dr. Keri McAdoo, CEO of PACE, as leading the development of PACE along with Dr. Gus Grant, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia and Dr. Viren Naik of the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) as co-leads of the initiative.

PACE is a partnership between the provincial government, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, and the Medical Council of Canada, and is a unique model in Canada.

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The College acknowledges that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honour and offer gratitude to those ancestors.