It’s been a little over six years since Velimir Milenkovic arrived in Canada from Serbia. The doctor is continuing to build his practice in Saskatoon with his young family who is settling into its new life on the Canadian prairies. The final part of CJWW’s five part series is a reflection on the 41-year-old’s journey. The restrictive Serbian health care system meant Dr. Milenkovic had no say over what type of medicine he could practice for five years in unsafe hospitals that provided little security. He decided to immigrate to find professional freedom and safety on the job as well as for his family. The doctor’s Canadian immigration visa arrived at the same time word came from Serbian health officials offering a residency in his preferred field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He chose Canada, believing there would be a better life professionally and financially in an environment where his young family could thrive. There was the challenge of paying for 10-thousand dollars-worth of exam fees and related expenses for two years just to get his medical license while also dealing with a much higher cost of living. That meant working in a factory, at cosmetic procedure salons and counting pills in a pharmacy and even after licensing it took another two years as an assistant to one surgeon before eventually finding work with three others. The early days in Saskatoon saw the couple welcome their second son into the world and learn they could go to a hockey game and even walk around the city without fearing the violence they escaped in Serbia. Dr. Milenkovic points out he was fortunate before moving saying he wasn’t a refugee leaving a war torn country and didn’t face any discrimination. He simply wanted a better life for himself, his wife and two sons and that’s what he has found in Saskatoon. The full interview with Dr. Milenkovic is in the podcasts section of cjwwradio.com.