Q: What is the predominant feeling in your daily life in a situation that is slow to evolve?
Dr. Prince: I remain hopeful for my patients. We must continue to fight! Initiatives must also come from the communities themselves; they must be involved in developing solutions. Because patients, too, need to have hope. They have the right to be cared for like other inhabitants of Canada.
On my part, I try to find a balance between feeling good about my caregiving profession and not burning out professionally. But burnout is a subject that concerns many doctors around the world and is increasingly being discussed. We should all have psychological support when entering medicine!
Q: Would you recommend colleagues to come and work in the Far North? What would you tell them?
Dr. Prince: I would tell them they will have no regrets! Yes, it’s difficult, but it’s a unique type of practice and very rewarding on a human level.
Professionally, it is a general practice that is no longer seen in the city today. The spectrum is very broad, ranging from neonatology to geriatrics, from the simplest to the most complex. It’s very stimulating. Diagnostically, practice is also very different from what is done in the metropolis. Without a scanner, you really have to question and investigate to evaluate whether a patient should be evacuated by plane to Montreal or not. It’s not trivial. Decisions must be made judiciously and quickly.
The human experience is also unique. Inuit communities are little known, and the aspects relayed in the media are often negative due to their increased risk for addiction. However, they are cheerful and very warm people, with an extraordinary culture. I have learned a lot from them, including reconsidering the notion of time, reviewing my priorities, and approaching life one day at a time.
I am very grateful to them for accepting me. I am sometimes even greeted with a “Welcome home!” when I return from vacation...Being told that in Nunavik, I am also “at home,” touches me immensely. I have seen children grow up, adolescents become adults. A bond of trust has developed.
Of course, all of this comes with sacrifices like being away from family and loved ones. We miss birthdays, weddings, etc. But without hesitation, it’s worth it!
Q: What are the next steps in your career in Nunavik? Will you stay for a long time?
Dr. Prince: I take it one day at a time, especially since I am about to take maternity leave very soon. But if a full-time return to Nunavik is difficult with a newborn, I know that the Nunavummiuts [inhabitants of Nunavik] will always be part of my life and my practice.
I want to remain involved with these communities, whether on-site (by practicing there a few months a year) or in Montreal where many patients are transferred. Coming to be treated in a big city (Montreal, 1.7M inhabitants), in very large hospitals, can be very stressful for them. They express themselves much less verbally than Westerners, so we must know how to listen to them, dedicate the necessary time to them, consider their culture and beliefs. I would like to be the familiar face they will encounter when they are cared for away from home. It’s a bond I want to preserve.
This story was translated from Medscape France using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.