Position Description:

The Department of Pediatrics, Section of Community Pediatrics, invite applications for the Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC) Normal Newborn Nursery and Pediatric Clinical Teaching Unit.

This is a 0.2 FTE Fee for Service position located at PLC. The target start date is July 1, 2026, for a one-year position with the possibility of extension.

The PLC Pediatric unit is a 12-bed inpatient “Community Hospital” model that works closely with the Alberta Children’s Hospital to support inpatient care of common uncomplicated pediatric issues. It is the primary site of admission for all infants in the City of Calgary and surrounding area presenting with hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy and those requiring treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome. Other common inpatient diagnoses include asthma, bronchiolitis, rule out sepsis and work-up and management of failure to thrive. The Unit is also home to two unique follow-up clinics – one specifically designed to follow-up on well appearing febrile infants under 60 days presenting to the ER in the preceding 24 hours (using the new AAP guidelines), as well as, two afternoons a week dedicated to urgent follow-up of patients recently discharged from hospital or presenting to the ER needing reassessment for single issues (i.e. fluid status, resolution of fever). 

Preceptors assess and care for newborns on a busy post-partum unit on scheduled intervals (approx. 4 weekends a year of coverage as well as on post-call days). The preceptor sees an estimated 6-10 babies a day and are supported by a level 2 NICU for babies who require escalating medical care.  

In the fall of 2024, a 6 bed Pediatric Medical-Psychiatry (Med-Psych) was opened embedded within the existing Pediatric unit, supported by a multi-disciplinary mental health team. Preceptors work with psychiatry and mental health support staff to provide care for pediatric patients who need support for both medical and mental health diagnoses. This service is novel and provides much needed services for this unique population. Preceptors are supported by family therapist, occupational therapists, and psychiatry as well as a physician assistant who rounds on the patients.  

The Pediatric Preceptor Program provides family medicine residents, pediatrics residents and medical students the opportunity to experience well supervised clinical practice and teaching in the inpatient pediatric and newborn units at the PLC.  Overall, all students and residents will have a balanced learning environment where patient care and teaching are concurrent. Preceptors are expected to provide direct on-site supervision of medical learners for 9 hours each day during their assigned week of services (i.e. 8am – 5pm). The number of weeks available to each preceptor will vary with the number of preceptors in the program but in general, 4-8 weeks/year is expected. Further, preceptors are expected to participate in home-call and newborn care with an estimated 10-12 days of call/6 month rotation.  

The role of the Preceptor is that of a supervisor and teacher. The Preceptor will attend rounds with the teaching team daily. Preceptors are responsible for inpatient care of all admissions during their week of services as well as to provide on-going care and consultation services as required in the newborn nursery. Overnight call is generally done from home with in-house learners to triage and review new admissions. When on-call, physicians are responsible for the inpatient team overnight (from 5pm - 8am) and are assigned to care for all newborns delivered during their call shift. New admits and newborns are typically seen the following day. In the nursery, preceptors may supervise, observe and teach clerks and residents. Preceptors also act as consultants for outside community calls from allied health such as public health nurses and midwives. Preceptors will evaluate learners by the One 45 and MainPort systems.  

The Department of Pediatrics has over 500 clinical and academic faculty members who are part of the rapidly growing Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Refer to the Department of Pediatrics website at www.ucalgary.ca/paed for more information about the Department, its faculty, services and accomplishments.

For more information regarding this position, please contact: Dr. Carrah Bouma, Site Lead – Peter Lougheed Centre ***@albertahealthservices.ca (🔒 Premium)  

Interested applicants should apply through the website portal and include the following attachments with their application: 

•    Cover letter 
•    Curriculum vitae 
•    The names and contact information for three referees

All interviewed applicants will require three letters of reference (in PDF format) to be sent to: Dr. Antonia Stang, Calgary Corridor Clinical Lead, Department of Pediatrics: ***@albertahealthservices.ca (🔒 Premium) and ***@albertahealthservices.ca (🔒 Premium)  

We’re passionate about what we do. Our team of skilled and dedicated health care professionals, support staff, and physicians promote wellness and provide health care every day, across the Calgary Zone.  We are an equal opportunity employer. AHS values the diversity of the people and communities we serve and is committed to attracting, engaging, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Qualifications:

Qualifications include certification in Pediatrics by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.  
Active certification in PALS and NRP is desired. 
A demonstrated commitment to teaching is a strong asset.  

The candidate must be eligible for Licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
Must read, write, and speak English.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority.