Manitoba-Born Doctor Returns to Home Province for New Role

A new chapter begins for the health care landscape in Manitoba as Dr. Arleigh Trainor, a physician trained in the United States, returns to her roots as the latest emergency department physician at Brandon Regional Health Centre. Originally from Winnipeg and raised in Thompson, Trainor is set to start her new role in early 2026, marking a significant move back to her home province.

In an interview from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Trainor expressed her excitement about this opportunity, stating, “I’m very, very happy and excited.” Her decision to return to Manitoba comes after exploring various job offers across Canada, including a position in Winnipeg. Ultimately, it was the combination of academic and clinical opportunities in Brandon that persuaded her to come home.

Trainor is not only joining Prairie Mountain Health but has also received an offer from the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine satellite program in Brandon. Although her role as assistant dean is still under negotiation, she sees it as a vital part of her decision-making process. “It’s not finalized, but I’ve been offered the position,” she noted, highlighting the importance of the opportunity.

The recruitment of Dr. Trainor is part of a broader initiative by the Manitoba government to attract American-trained physicians back to the province. Currently, there are 33 U.S.-trained doctors in various stages of recruitment, with five already practicing in Winnipeg. This influx is facilitated by new regulations from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, which streamline the process for U.S. doctors to obtain full licensure.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara emphasized the positive impact these changes will have on health care delivery. “Doctors who move to Manitoba can hit the ground running,” Asagwara stated, citing conversations with newly arrived physicians who are eager to start making a difference in patient care.

Dr. Trainor’s journey back to Canada began earlier this year at an international conference on emergency medicine in Montreal. There, she connected with Dr. Savitri Ramaya, Prairie Mountain’s associate chief medical officer, and learned about the new policies aimed at attracting medical professionals from the U.S. “They made it much easier to come across the border and practice medicine compared to 20 years ago,” she explained. Inspired, she decided to apply for positions back home.

Having completed her post-secondary education at institutions such as the University of Laval in Quebec and the University of North Dakota, Trainor has extensive experience in emergency medicine. Since 2011, she has worked at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, where she also serves as chief of the division of emergency medicine at the University of South Dakota-Sanford School of Medicine.

“Emergency medicine just suited me,” said Trainor, reflecting on her career choice. She plans to continue working in South Dakota until the end of December before relocating to Brandon for her new role. Her anticipated start date is between February and March of 2026.

Dr. Adrian Fung, the chief medical officer at Prairie Mountain Health, expressed enthusiasm about Trainor joining their team, crediting the successful recruitment efforts of the health region and the province. Asagwara acknowledged the validity of concerns regarding the distribution of physicians, particularly with Brandon receiving one doctor while Winnipeg has five. “Sometimes it just takes that one doctor at that one site to be the catalyst for many more physicians relocating,” Asagwara remarked.

Trainor is currently finalizing her medical license application for Manitoba and is looking forward to this new chapter in her life. “It will be sad to leave friends, but when you have a good opportunity, you take it,” she concluded. Her return not only promises to enhance the local health care system but also offers a sense of renewed hope for the community she has longed to serve.