Dr. Anika Constantinescu (pictured above) now practices at Allwood Medical Centre in Abbotsford.
By Mari-Len De Guzman
Transitioning to medical practice can be a stressful time for any new doctor. For Abbotsford family physician Dr. Anika Constantinescu, however, that transition was anchored by a supportive medical community, making the leap from residency to full-time practice far more manageable.
Now nearly two years in her practice, Constantinescu still feels supported, especially by the Abbotsford doctors she considers her role models.
“Meeting Dr. Elizabeth Watt during my residency, for example, I was able to get some more familiarity with the Foundry and some of the clinics in Abbotsford, and from there, I just kind of haven’t looked back, honestly,” she recalls.
Watt was the medical director of Foundry Abbotsford until she retired from that role in 2023. The Foundry provides free, confidential health and wellness support for youth and their families.
As an international medical graduate (IMG), having completed her medical training in Australia, Constantinescu had a return of service (ROS) requirement — a mandatory commitment to practice in a specific community for a set period as a pathway for IMGs to practice in British Columbia.
While this obligation could have been fulfilled anywhere in the Fraser Valley, she chose to stay in Abbotsford, a decision driven largely by the high-caliber mentorship she received.
She was particularly inspired by the strong presence of female physicians in the local medical community, such as Dr. Watt, Dr. Caroline Cook, Dr. Sarah Culkin, and Dr. Beth Gallagher.
“A lot of amazing female physicians… you don’t find that everywhere,” she notes, reflecting on how these relationships made her excited to remain in the community.
During her residency in Abbotsford, she witnessed these role models in action across various specialties including in women’s health and delivering health care to incarcerated individuals. She felt a sense of belonging that solidified her decision to practice in the city.
There and back again
Constantinescu was born and raised in British Columbia – born in Surrey and lived in Langley for most of her life. She studied in the U.S. for her undergraduate degree in biology and sociology. She then went to the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia for her medicine program.
“I was in Australia for four years and then came home again and started working towards getting residency here at home, where I ultimately did want to be,” she said.
As a student athlete, Constantinescu got to travel for competitions, which exposed her to the prospect of pursuing education outside of Canada. She also considered sports medicine as a career path. But in the end, she found her passion in women’s health.
“One of the perks of family practice is you have so many options available to you, but on the other side of things, you can’t possibly do everything. You have to find your balance,” she said. “While I do like sports medicine, most of my practice is geared more towards women’s health because that’s what I enjoy most.”
She says going through the residency program in Abbotsford helped her find her path to practice. Through the Abbotsford Division of Family Practice’s resident engagement program, Constantinescu says she felt very supported, especially when it came time for her to choose the clinic where she would set up her practice.
Abbotsford Division’s resident engagement program helps resident doctors successfully transition to practice through various initiatives that support all key aspects of their education. This includes essential business-related knowledge to help them run their practice effectively.
Through its clinic matching and onboarding initiative, the Division helps ensure that every doctor starting practice in Abbotsford winds up at a clinic that matches their professional and personal values, according to Marziyah Hussain, Abbotsford Division’s people and culture manager, who leads its resident engagement program.
Constantinescu recalled the Division was especially helpful with providing some options when she was deciding on which clinic to join.
“They took their time in finding some really good options for me and speaking with the clinics on my behalf to see if they’re willing to have a chat with me. That was really helpful,” she said. Constantinescu has since joined the Allwood Medical Centre team.
“Now I’m here at Allwood, and it’s going very well, but that would have been a much more difficult process if I didn’t have the Division helping me and supporting me in that,” she said.
The resident engagement program is a key strategic priority for the Abbotsford Division of Family Practice, supporting its vision of equitable, team-based care delivered by dedicated and thriving health-care providers. This work is guided by four strategic pillars: creating a place to grow, helping physicians thrive, building the right relationships, and fostering connection and belonging.