Head, Department of Psychiatry

Women’s College Hospital

University of Toronto

ROLE PROFILE

Introduction

Women’s College Hospital (WCH) is seeking a dynamic and visionary medical leader to bring its Department of Psychiatry programs to the next level of clinical and academic innovation; lead the Department of Psychiatry as a member of the hospital leadership team; and join the Psychiatry leadership team at the University of Toronto.

WCH is an academic outpatient care hospital in Toronto, Ontario with a focus on transforming healthcare for women and gender diverse people, delivering better outcomes, access and patient experience through equitable and connected care, learning and discovery. WCH is affiliated with the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN), a dynamic network of academic health organizations providing leading edge research, teaching and education, and clinical care.

WCH is setting a new pace for transformative redesign in healthcare through its new strategic plan Healthcare Revolutionized 2030. The hospital aims to confront gender and social inequities that threaten people’s health; to reimagine how healthcare services are delivered to help solve the health system’s most urgent issues and close the health gaps for all.

The Department Head will report to the Hospital President & CEO through the Vice President, Medical Affairs & System Transformation and Lead Medical Executive. The Department Head is responsible for aligning the Department with the strategy of the hospital, in a dyad partnership with the Clinical Director for Mental Health. The Department Head works collegially with the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, partner hospitals and with the WCH Foundation leadership team to advance philanthropy. The Department Head will have opportunities to grow partnerships with valued community partner organizations and build additional partnerships.

The Department of Psychiatry

The WCH Department of Psychiatry uniquely focuses on three distinct clinical areas pertaining to the impact of sex and gender on mental health issues.

1. Reproductive Life Stages (includes Child & Family Psychiatry Services) – This program provides assessment and short-term treatment for women experiencing new or recurrent mental health problems during the reproductive life stages (menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum and the menopausal transition).

2. Trauma Therapy – This program is a specialized trauma-focused therapy service for persons with childhood histories of trauma, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect that occurred between the ages of 0-18.

3. General Psychiatry – This program is committed to providing comprehensive, individualized care for persons experiencing mental health challenges, ages 18 and up. It strives to empower individuals to manage their mental health symptoms using evidence-based therapeutic modalities effectively.

In addition to the multidisciplinary approach to clinical services, the WCH Department of Psychiatry provides education and training for undergraduate and post-graduate learners from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, in addition to learners from Professional Practice and Health Disciplines.

The WCH Department of Psychiatry leads an internationally renowned research program, leveraging new digital health tools and treatment models to provide comprehensive mental healthcare that respects the community's diverse needs.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Department Head will lead the clinical, academic and resource oversight of the WCH Department of Psychiatry. More specifically, the Department Head will:

1. Lead the Department of Psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital. The Department Head will work in close partnership with their dyad partner, the Clinical Director for Mental Health, to lead a large, active team of physicians and health discipline professionals delivering comprehensive mental health care within the context of a large interprofessional team. 

2. Provide visionary leadership and operational oversight to advance the strategic plan of the hospital as it relates to mental health programs. The Head will provide medical leadership across the Hospital’s mental health programs including Reproductive Life Stages, Trauma Therapy and General Psychiatry. The Department Head will:

a. Lead the implementation and sustainability of care models that exemplify the principles of patient-centered care.

b. Work with the Vice President, Medical Affairs and System Transformation & Lead Medical Executive to develop and execute initiatives that align with the Hospital’s strategic and operational commitments to serve women and gender diverse people.

3. Build and lead a team of dedicated medical professionals committed to excellence in clinical care, clinical innovation, and continuous quality improvement. As a medical leader responsible for medical human resources, the Department Head will:

a. Work with the Vice President, Medical Affairs & System Transformation and Lead Medical Executive to develop and implement a Medical Human Resources Plan in accordance with the Hospital’s Stra¬tegic Plan.

b. Take the lead in the Human Resources development of the Medical Staff within the Department, including recruitment and career development, with a strong focus on mentorship of junior and mid-career faculty. 

c. Assume responsibility for developing and monitoring clinical standards of practice, policies, and procedures, and participate in the resolution of issues regarding standards of practice in a manner consistent with hospital and regulatory body policies and procedures.

d. Play a leadership role in the education of both undergraduate and postgraduate learners, as well as promoting continuing medical education activities within the Department.

4. Pursue excellence and represent WCH in academics by advancing the educational, research and scholarly objectives of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. As a leader at the University, the Department Head will:

a. Align the goals and strategic plan of the Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and the Department of Psychiatry at WCH.

b. Represent WCH at a variety of tables at the University and partner with the Department Chair and colleagues across the Toronto Academic Health Science Network to achieve shared goals and objectives.

c. Provide leadership in scholarship within the Department of Psychiatry at WCH.

d. Mentor department members in the areas of education, research, and scholarship.

5. Participate actively in WCH medical leadership. The Department Head will work together with their colleague Department Heads to facilitate and advance joint projects in clinical care and academics. More specifically, the Department Head will:

a. Participate in the work of the Medical Advisory Committee, under the leadership of the Chair, actively pursuing quality and excellence in medical care.

b. Seek out opportunities for clinical and scholarly synergy across the hospital.

6. Build partnerships to advance the goals of WCH beyond its walls. The Department Head will work closely and collaboratively with partner hospitals, the Ontario Health Team, community-based partner organizations, philanthropic and other organizations to advance the strategic objectives of the hospital. 

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will be:

1. An individual with Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians of Canada or equivalent, eligible for medical licensure in Ontario, and eligible for an academic appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor at the University of Toronto.

2. An individual with a strong record of supporting others engaged in mental health education, research and creative professional activity, in addition to having their own strong record of scholarship.

3. A dynamic and compassionate leader, who demonstrates an empathetic, trusting, and responsive demeanor, with strong mentorship skills.

4. An individual experienced in interprofessional models of care and committed to interprofessional education and patient care.

5. A person with a strong commitment to social justice, equity and the health of women and diverse communities.

6. An individual with a people-oriented leadership style with the ability to inspire a shared vision and to challenge others to excellence.

7. A person with exceptional fiscal management skills, with an emphasis on linking quality outcomes with optimizing costs.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Department Head will be responsible to: 

1. The Vice President, Medical Affairs & System Transformation and Lead Medical Executive. The Department Head will pursue their duties on contract to the hospital and as such will report to the President & CEO through the Vice President.

2. As per the Public Hospitals Act, the Department Head shall be accountable to the Board, through the Medical Advisory Committee Chair, for the quality of care provided by the Medical Staff of their Department

3. The Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto for academic activities within Psychiatry.

EXPECTATIONS & TERM

The successful candidate will be an outstanding academic leader and clinician, with proven excellence in prior complex health care environments. Candidates should have a deep commitment to scholarly enterprise, with experience in advancing peer-reviewed research and education in psychiatry.

Salary for the role of Department Head will reflect an expected 2.5 days per week commitment, in addition to clinical compensation and other academic support based, in part, on fee-for-service billings and sessional fees.

The appointment is generally for a term of five years. After successful completion of the initial five-year appointment, a University/Hospital review will be conducted with potential reappointment for a final five-year term. Appointments over ten years will generally not be possible.