Dr. Punit Sachdev now calls the QE II Health Sciences Centre home

Image

Dr. Punit Sachdev had no idea that a simple Facebook advertisement from Nova Scotia Health would ultimately lead to a major life change. But that one ad set him on a path that brought him to Halifax, and more specifically, the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. The advertisement was part of a digital recruitment campaign Nova Scotia Health ran in the United States from late 2024 to early 2025.

Punit began his medical journey in India, where he completed medical school before moving to New York City for his internal medicine residency. He then spent more than a decade practising as a hospitalist in Iowa before making the move to Nova Scotia.

Punit is a fourth-generation physician who always knew he wanted to follow in his ancestor’s footsteps. “My dad would take me to his work, and that’s where I saw how much of a difference a physician could make in people’s lives,” he says.

Punit credits Nova Scotia’s natural beauty and welcoming people. While he originally imagined moving to another part of Canada, the charm of Halifax quickly won him over. “The landscape is so appealing, and the people are very warm. My brother lives in Toronto, and my parents split their time between Canada and India, so it just made sense to be closer to them.”

Adjusting to the Canadian healthcare system turned out to be easier than he expected. “The licensing process wasn’t difficult. They asked for the same documents I’d need in the US. The practice itself is also very similar; the guidelines are the same.”

United States-trained physicians who have completed their American board exams are now eligible for full licensure in Nova Scotia. There is no longer a requirement for Royal College Certification.

Nova Scotia Health has successfully filled multiple hospitalist vacancies within Central Zone, welcoming nine new physicians to the team for 2024–25. This recruitment effort strengthens our ability to deliver timely, patient-centered care, ensuring individuals admitted to hospital receive the dedicated attention they need throughout their stay. Hospitalists play a crucial role in co-ordinating treatment, managing patient care during hospital stays, and collaborating closely with specialists and nursing teams.

Punit works as a hospitalist at the QEII’s Halifax Infirmary site. His day typically runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., accepting patients from the emergency department or primary care providers. Once a week, he’s on night call from home between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., ready to put in orders remotely or go to the hospital if a patient requires urgent attention.

He’s proud of the collaborative approach to care in Nova Scotia. “When patients are really sick, it’s a team effort,” Punit explains. “We work closely with allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, prosthetics and many more. The team dynamic really stands out.”

What helps keep Punit going is the feedback he gets from patients. “They’re very appreciative of what we can do to help them. That’s the most rewarding part.” Punit says the transition has been overwhelmingly positive.

Punit may not have planned to land in Nova Scotia, but the move has felt like the right one from the start. “Everyone has been very kind,” he says. “The team at the QEII has been incredibly supportive and I’ve felt welcomed every step of the way.”

With deep commitment to patient care and a love for the collaborative nature of the healthcare system, Punit is fully embracing this new chapter. His journey, rooted in a lifelong passion for medicine and helping others, has found its next home in Halifax, and it’s just the beginning.

Photo of Dr. Punit Sachdev.