THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL – Substance Use Program

501 Smyth Road, Ottawa ON K1H 8L6

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,400 beds, approximately 13,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.8 billion.

Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, and our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.

From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges.

Our Vision: 

To provide each patient with the world-class care, exceptional service, and compassion that we would want for our loved ones.

Opportunity: Substance Use Program – Seeking an Addiction Medicine Physician 

Full Time Faculty Position

The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) Mental Health program is a Schedule 1 Facility under the Mental Health Act, which operates the following general psychiatry acute care programs and services at two campuses (Civic and General): 

•        Psychiatric Emergency Services 

•        Inpatient Service

•        Outpatient Clinics (including Urgent Consult Clinic)

•        Acute Partial Hospitalization

•        Consultation Programs & Medical/Surgical Liaison Service

The Ottawa Hospital also provides specialized programs and/or services: 

•        Substance Use Program 

•        Mobile Crisis Team & Community Crisis Stabilization Beds

•        First Episode Psychosis Program (regional program)

•        Perinatal Mental Health Services

•        Regional Program for the Treatment of Eating Disorder

•        Community Treatment Order Coordinator

The Substance Use Program’s Consult Service is an interdisciplinary, hospital-based team that provides expert advice and care for patients admitted to The Ottawa Hospital with substance use disorders. The service improves care for a vulnerable population by reducing barriers to recovery-oriented treatment, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced hospital readmissions.

Key Responsibilities:

•        Assessment and diagnosis: Performing comprehensive medical and psychosocial assessments to diagnose substance use disorders and related conditions.

•        Symptom and withdrawal management: Managing withdrawal symptoms from substances such as alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines, and addressing complex pain management needs for patients with substance use disorders.

•        Treatment initiation: Initiating evidence-based addiction treatments during hospitalization, including opioid agonist therapy (OAT) (e.g., methadone, buprenorphine, kadian) and medications for alcohol use disorder.

•        Counseling and support: Providing patient-centered counseling, including motivational interviewing and harm reduction education, to improve patient insight and readiness to change.

•        Discharge planning and linkage to care: Coordinating safe transitions to post-discharge care by connecting patients with community-based outpatient services, such as the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic, primary care providers, community OAT clinics, the Ottawa Withdrawal Management Centre (OWMC), and social support services.

Job Duties:

•        Building addiction medicine capacity throughout departments of The Ottawa Hospital.

•        Provide specialized addiction medicine consultative service to admitting teams and the emergency department.

•        Provide expertise in the evaluation, treatment, and recovery of individuals with substance-related health conditions.

•        Provide expertise in managing opioid withdrawal.

•        Provide expertise in managing opioid use disorder with opioid agonist therapy.

•        Provide expertise in managing alcohol withdrawal in the acute care setting.

•        Provide expertise in managing alcohol use disorder with anti-craving agents and liason to community recovery programs.

•        Provide expertise in managing care for patients with stimulant use disorder.

•        Teaching residents from various disciplines the principles of addiction medicine. Providing clinical and experiential opportunities for trainees, emphasizing a patient-centered, non-stigmatizing, trauma-informed approach to care. Teaching requirements include clinical teaching, didactic sessions, and mentorship.

•        Maintain historical records well.

•        Update job knowledge by participating in continuing medical educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.

Required Education, Knowledge, Experience, and Skills:

•        Language requirements: fluent in English, bilingualism considered an asset.

•        Experience providing community care of persons with use disorders considered an asset.

•        Experience providing addiction medicine consultations in hospital settings considered an asset.

•        Eligible for licensure by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

•        Meet criteria to apply for and receive appropriate medical staff privileges at The Ottawa Hospital.

•        Meet criteria to receive an academic appointment at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine at the rank of Lecturer or higher to supervise learners.

•        Demonstrated skill in assessing patient needs.

•        Demonstrated skill in participating as an active member of the health care team.

•        Demonstrated skill in communicating effectively in an oral and written format with patients, public, colleagues and other health discipline.

•        Holding a PhD or masters considered an asset.

•        Identifies a commitment to personal continuing education activities.

Primary source of income is Fee-for-Service Remuneration (e.g. billings to Ontario Health Insurance Plan) supplemented by Sessional Funds, payments from hospital Alternate Funding Plan for academic activities and Hospital On-Call Coverage stipends.

Benefits: Successful applicants will work in a hospital privileges model. Remuneration is fee for service with alternate funding plan for academic work.

Location of work:

•        Civic Campus, The Ottawa Hospital, 1053 Carling Avenue K1Y 4E9

•        General Campus, The Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa K1H 8L6

•        Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa K1H 8M5

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of application and curriculum vitae to: 

Dr. Jess G. Fiedorowicz, Head of the Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital

Email(preferred): ***@toh.ca (🔒 Premium)    Tel:1-613-798-5555x72210  Fax:1- ***-***-**** (🔒 Premium)

Dr. Elena Paraskevopoulos, Medical Director of the Substance Use Program, The Ottawa Hospital.

Email: ***@toh.ca (🔒 Premium)" target="_blank" style="font-size: 14px;">***@toh.ca (🔒 Premium)