Evguenia Marinova is a Doctor of Family Medicine from Bulgaria. She came to Canada in the fall of 2002 to become a family practitioner but her dream was nearly dashed as she became lost in the system of newly immigrated doctors. Wanting to gain experience in a Canadian hospital and to improve her communication skills, she chose to volunteer at Baycrest. She began "Friendly Visiting" at Baycrest Hospital in July 2004 and joined the EATing Assistance Program a few months later, assisting one client for over two years at meal times.

Volunteering at Baycrest made Evguenia feel helpful and useful. Prior to her experience at Baycrest, Evguenia had worked mainly with younger people. Here she learned a lot about behavioural changes associated with the aging process and the vulnerability and helplessness of the elderly.

Throughout her time at Baycrest, Evguenia was doing everything that she knew to get into a Medical Residency Program in Canada but with no avail. By the suggestion of other Baycrest staff members, she approached Dr. Fabio Varlese, Program Director of the Acute Care Unit. Dr. Varlese saw his own experience in her struggle, since he obtained his medical degree in Rome, Italy before coming to Canada. He understood the difficulty of being recognized for a foreign degree. Baycrest¡¯s Dr. Michael Gordon, with the support of Dr. Terumi Izukawa and Villa Columbo, helped Dr. Varlese obtain a specialty in Geriatric Medicine here in Canada.

Dr. Varlese wanted to "give back" and help another foreign doctor. He encouraged Evguenia and gave her precious advice regarding her career goals. With the moral support from Dr. Varlese, combined with her unrelenting drive, and constant support from her husband and children, Evguenia eventually attained a Family Medicine Residency at Queen¡¯s University, beginning this fall. She begins her pre-residency training on Monday March 31st.

Eudice Rotfarb and Janis Sternhill, Coordinators of Volunteers, together with the Volunteer Services Department are very happy that Evguenia will be closer to her goals. Though we will lose a wonderful and compassionate volunteer, we may gain a newly designated Canadian MD in the future. We wish Evguenia the best of luck!