After 13 years of clinical experience, Dr. Henry Hung, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, previously operated a clinic in Mong Kok and relocated to Canada in September 2022. After nearly two years of effort, he finally managed to work multiple jobs simultaneously to accumulate enough hours for permanent residency application. Recently, he opened his own clinic in Vancouver and also teaches at three schools in Canada. But what are the unknown hardships behind working in Canada with an OWP visa and what are the differences between practicing medicine in Canada and Hong Kong?
“In Hong Kong, it’s just a single job till the end, but in Canada, you have to start doing different part-time jobs. It was a bit challenging at first,” said Henry Hung. In 2020, he obtained a doctoral degree in traditional Chinese medicine, qualifying for Canada’s “lifeline plan” Stream B, which is a pathway for Hong Kong residents to work in Canada. With an open work permit in hand, he can apply for permanent residency by working full-time for 1 year or accumulating 1,560 part-time hours in Canada. After learning about this plan, Dr. Hung prepared in Hong Kong with the goal of quickly obtaining the Chinese medicine license in Canada to resume his career in a new city. However, the actual work experience was not as easy as expected. Arriving in a new place without local experience or connections, how could he break the ice and integrate into local life?
Despite having a doctoral degree, finding a suitable job in Canada proved to be quite challenging for Dr. Hung. Most jobs required local work experience, and although there are Chinese medicine clinics in the area, they are typically self-employed individuals who cannot provide employment, which does not count towards immigration hours. He sent out dozens of resumes for positions like acupuncturist, clinic manager, medical assistant, and clerk, only to receive no responses.
One night, he decided to set aside his preferences and professional expertise to find a job that could help him survive locally. He submitted his resume to a supermarket and received an interview notice the next day.
To accumulate hours for residency, he chose to work as a full-time stocker at a chain supermarket, which was the easiest and most easily accessible job. His main duties involved unloading goods from the warehouse and taking inventory. He worked in a snow room at -18°C for 2 hours, manually carried 28 to 30 kilograms of turkeys, and used a pallet truck to move 1.3 tons of milk, physical tasks he had never done before in Hong Kong but were now part of his daily routine in Canada. He started work at 7 a.m., woke up before 5 a.m. to prepare breakfast, left home at 6 a.m., walked about 50 minutes to the supermarket. Winters were even tougher; he had to walk through snow for up to one and a half hours. He said, “For the sake of residency, with goals in mind, there’s no such thing as”.
After returning home, he couldn’t rest, and had to continue providing online consultations for his patients in Hong Kong clinic, all to fulfill residency requirements and make a living. Dr. Hung did not just have one job; working at the supermarket was just one of his jobs. He chose to work the early shift because he had to work according to Hong Kong time starting in the evening. He also met local Chinese medicine practitioners through friends, worked part-time at a clinic, and secured a part-time job as a university lecturer. Thus, he became a “slashie,” managing multiple jobs effortlessly.
“The licensing system in Canada is very different from Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, there is one exam for everything, called ‘Internal and External Obstetrics and Gynecology Acupuncture.’ Everything is included in this single exam. If you pass this exam and obtain the practice qualification, you become a registered Chinese medicine practitioner after graduation, able to perform internal medicine, bone injury treatments, and acupuncture. In Canada, each province has its own slightly different system,” explained Dr. Hung.
Currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Hung obtained the registration certificate issued by the CTCMA of British Columbia, Canada. The examination format changed due to the pandemic, allowing remote exams. In April 2022, he took the exam in Hong Kong, passed it, obtained a work visa in Vancouver, and then applied for his license. He finally received the registration certificate in November and could now officially practice in Canada.
Dr. Hung mentioned that the practice of Chinese medicine in Vancouver is well-developed, with acupuncture covered by medical insurance. Besides the Chinese community, many foreigners also show interest in Chinese medicine, especially acupuncture. Dr. Hung observed that local Chinese medicine students typically spend three years obtaining an acupuncturist license since acupuncture is more prevalent than herbal medicine. If they are still interested, they may spend an additional year to become a herbalist.
After obtaining his Chinese medicine license, Dr. Hung not only worked part-time at a recommended clinic but also taught at two private schools, Tzu Chi International Chinese Medicine College and Vancouver Career College. Starting September this year, he will also teach acupuncture diploma courses at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the only public institution in British Columbia offering Chinese medicine courses.
When teaching acupuncture, Dr. Hung often serves as a live model for his students, offering his arm for needle practice. He explained the differences in needling techniques, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate methods for effective treatment.
Furthermore, teaching Chinese medicine in English posed a significant challenge for Dr. Hung and his colleagues. He emphasized that the knowledge in Chinese medicine is cultural and not easily expressed in a language other than Chinese, requiring explanations of terms and their cultural significance during lectures.
The environments and climates in Canada and Hong Kong are different, leading to variations in common illnesses among patients seeking treatment. Dr. Hung explained, “For example, there are many cases of nasal allergies here, especially in March and April, caused by pollen and plant spores. In Hong Kong, these floral allergies are rare, with patients mostly reacting to dust mites, pet hair, etc. Conditions triggered by cold weather, such as respiratory issues apart from nasal allergies, like asthma or joint pain, are more prevalent here than in Hong Kong.”
Dr. Hung added, “In Hong Kong, we often see symptoms related to humidity, such as feeling heavy, tired, or digestive problems. However, here, such issues are relatively less common. Therefore, there are differences in common illnesses between the two regions. People’s constitution and disease tendencies vary, requiring different treatment approaches.”
Regarding eczema, a common issue among Hong Kong residents, Dr. Hung noted that the condition varies among individuals based on their adaptation to climate change. Some patients who had eczema in Hong Kong find relief in Canada, while some develop eczema after moving to Canada, indicating the impact of climate and lifestyle changes on health conditions. Dr. Hung mentioned, “Since the climate and lifestyles are different here, adjustments are made in medication based on individual requirements.”
Dr. Hung believes that Chinese medicine practitioners from Hong Kong have an advantage in Canada. He explained, “Firstly, we generally have more patient interactions in Hong Kong, gaining more experience and handling a higher patient volume. Secondly, when treating Chinese patients, whether they are older Chinese immigrants or new arrivals, we are more familiar with their lifestyles, dietary habits, and even their constitutional differences, which may be influenced by climate changes, making it easier for us to understand them.”
“On the other hand, Chinese medicine practitioners who have lived here for a long time may not always fully understand the body constitution or lifestyle habits, especially those of people from southern regions. Sometimes, communication may not be as easy. Therefore, not only for my patients, including new immigrants, there are ongoing realizations — long-term Hong Kong residents who see Chinese medicine here find communication easier. Understanding lifestyles can provide more suitable suggestions for improving health habits,” added Dr. Hung.
This year, Dr. Hung successfully accumulated enough hours for residency, applying for permanent residency and preparing to bring his Hong Kong clinic, Kangyi Chinese Medicine, to Canada. In Canada, opening a clinic isn’t as straightforward as in Hong Kong, where having a storefront guarantees foot traffic. Success heavily relies on word of mouth and recommendations from friends. Dr. Hung actively participates in various local activities to make friends and rebuild connections.
Reflecting on the immigration journey of the past two years, Dr. Hung believes that re-establishing oneself is crucial. He emphasized, “The entire immigration journey is a whole new experience for us. It’s essential to approach this change with the right mindset and rediscover oneself. Regardless of the challenges or joys, the most important thing is to walk your path.”
— Production Team of “Drifting Legends”