Dr. Melanie MacIntyre's Profile

My Role
I moved to the GNWT to keep myself challenged and my career moving. It’s a very dynamic environment, the people are very supportive and my experience is well matched for the job. I work as a Family Physician and am mostly involved with the Clinics. In addition to rotational duties in the hospitals, I travel into the communities and also assist with surgery. I have been a member of the GNWT since 2008.

Career Path
I grew up in the Acadian fishing communities in Church Pt., Nova Scotia. My entire schooling was done in the French medium and I finished my med school in Ottawa. I then graduated from the University of St Anne with a B. Sc degree. After completing my Residency for 2 years at Dalhousie, I ran my own family medicine practice in Bridgewater N.S. for 2 years. I was never comfortable running a business and have always wanted a salaried position. The GNWT was the perfect choice as it offered a fantastic environment for growth plus the salaried position I was looking for.

Best Part

My job at GNWT has been so far full of enjoyable challenges, and it’s a great opportunity to get to know a new part of the world. The best part about living and working in the North? I can think of many things but the one that immediately comes to mind are the people – they are gentle, kind and full of energy.

I have been living here for 5 months now and simply adore every minute of it. From the moment I landed here, I kept an open mind, was able to adapt quickly and haven’t found settling-in difficult at all. I also love the amenities and the fact that you can have everything you need but in just 5 minutes, you can be out in the wilderness.

Expanded Opportunities in the North
There are definitely some opportunities that the north offers which may not be available to professionals working in the south. It’s a really challenging environment but very satisfying. Qualified people are always in demand, so the opportunities are endless and your career progression is rapid.

Here, I work with a group of dedicated colleagues that I like and respect. I am also involved in teaching resident medical students, a privilege I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy anywhere else. I can continue to speak in French and work in ‘acute’ care. Most importantly, I love the work life balance that the GNWT provides.

Northern Fun
I’ve been to many places but never seen any more vibrant and upbeat than here. The NWT offers loads of opportunities to ‘play hard’ with a great variety of outdoors options. I absolutely love the fact that there are activities inherent to the North like camping, canoeing, skiing, boating and hiking. The thrill of being out of your ‘comfort zone’ and having different experiences in a new land is priceless.