Overcoming barriers: Dr. Asem Murshed’s path back to practicing medicine

Dr. Asem Murshed arrived in Canada as a refugee from Yemen in 2017. He landed in Canada after years of navigating barriers and restarting his medical career across several different countries. It was not until the fall of 2025 that he was finally able to return to his profession as a physician.

Asem’s journey to becoming a doctor in Canada reflects years of navigating complex systems and overcoming challenges at every step. RBC’s $5 million donation enables Windmill Microlending to support internationally trained professionals like Asem, to overcome financial barriers and continue their careers in Canada.‍

As a Yemeni student who had just finished high school in Saudi Arabia, Asem learned medical school seats were prioritized for Saudi citizens. When his family returned to Yemen for this reason, they encountered more challenges. Determined not to give up on his dream, he found a path to study medicine in Russia and learned the language in less than a year to make this a reality. He graduated from Saint Petersburg State University with a medical degree in 2014 and returned to Yemen, where he had the opportunity to help open a mobile health clinic serving rural communities. Then, political instability forced him to leave once again.

He re-licensed in Saudi Arabia as a first step while figuring out his next move, beginning work there as a general medical practitioner in 2015. It was only after he started practicing that he realized residency opportunities would be out of reach. Still searching for a way to fulfill his calling as a doctor. Asem moved to the United States, understanding that he would have to begin his medical relicensing process again in order to apply for a residency program. When shifting immigration policies disrupted his plans, he was forced to put his medical career on hold and take on work as a pizza delivery driver to support his wife and kids. 

Recognizing there was no clear path to obtain his medical license in the United States, Asem applied for refugee status in Canada and moved with his wife in 2017. They arrived in Montreal and shortly after moved to Mississauga where they had a more established community. There they began growing their family and rebuilding their lives. Once again, he worked as a delivery driver to make ends meet, all while holding onto the hope that he could one day return to medicine.

In Canada, the challenges persisted. Asem had to navigate a new healthcare system, rebuild his professional identity and support his family while starting over yet again. Through uncertainty and long hours trying to make ends meet, he held onto the same conviction that had carried him across countries and setbacks – one day, he would practice medicine again.

In 2019, Asem secured a volunteer research position at the Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre at Western University. Even though it was unpaid, it brought him closer to the medical field. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, he got his first real break and started working at a vaccination centre – his first role back in patient care since leaving Saudi Arabia. For the first time in years, he felt a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

With a clearer understanding of the Canadian system, Asem began preparing for his licensing exams, knowing they would demand both time and significant financial sacrifice. Soon after, a friend introduced him to Windmill Microlending. The loan he received symbolized a turning point. For the first time, he could focus on studying and pursuing clinical opportunities without the constant strain of providing for his family.

After passing his exams, he matched to the Family Medicine Residency Program at Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton. In June 2025, Asem, his wife and their four children moved once again, this time not out of necessity, but toward a future they had been working toward for years. Once he completes his residency, Asem plans to pursue a specialization in emergency medicine. 

Today, Asem gives back to his community by acting as a mentor in Windmill’s mentorship program. He supports others facing similar challenges, helping them find their footing in a system he once had to navigate alone. “I like to help people,” he says. “I know how difficult it was when I didn’t have guidance. If I had a mentor, it could have saved me years.”

Journeys like Asem’s are made possible with support from collaborators like RBC, whose donation to Windmill helps open doors for internationally trained physicians across Canada. By supporting access to affordable loans, coaching and mentorship, RBC is helping ensure that talent like Asem’s doesn’t go to waste but instead reaches the patients and communities who need it most.

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