Department Head, Medical Genetics

BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia



General Information



The Department Head, Medical Genetics, reports to the Chief Medical Officer for BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre and BC Children’s Hospital. This role has oversight for the hospital’s Medical Genetics Program, a consultative service that focuses on clarifying diagnoses and providing genetic counselling for rare and difficult to diagnose genetic conditions while also contributing to education and research. As Medical Director, this role leads an established department with a long tradition of excellence in clinical care, education, and research.



The Department Head, Medical Genetics, facilitates academic and research endeavours within the department and collaborates with the Program Director of the Provincial Medical Genetic Program (PMGP) on oversight of financial and program planning, directional planning and implementation, clinical care delivery and quality of care within the Program. The incumbent will be recommended for faculty appointment with the University of British Columbia (UBC), actively participating in the fully accredited Royal College Residency Training Program in Medical Genetics and Genomics and in Canadian College of Medical Geneticists and other fellowship training.



Specific Accountabilities



Medical Director

Oversee physician human resource planning and management, facilitate academic and research endeavours within the department.
Oversee financial and program planning, directional planning and implementation, clinical care delivery and quality of care within the PMGP, in collaboration with the PMGP Program Director.


Leadership

Show evidence of building, managing and maintaining high-quality and productive relationships.
Demonstrate cultural humility and have the ability to communicate and interact with empathy, understanding and respect for diverse perspectives and behaviours in keeping with the Coast Salish Teachings gifted to PHSA.


UBC Faculty Member Appointment

Participate fully in UBC academic teaching and training activities and undertake or actively collaborate in medical genetics and genomics research (upon UBC’s acceptance of recommendation for appointment).


Qualifications



Candidates for this position will be eligible to hold licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and be eligible for Clinical Faculty appointment at UBC. Candidates will have exceptional clinical skills and demonstrated administrative experience within medical genetics.



The successful candidate will also demonstrate a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.



As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.



Contact



Applications, accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae, a cover letter describing their interest in the position and fit with the department, and names of four references, should be directed to: Health Match BC

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. The start date for this position to be mutually agreed upon.



About Provincial Health Services Authority



BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre is the only facility in British Columbia devoted primarily to the health of women, birthers, newborns and families. It provides a broad range of specialized women’s health services that address the health needs of women of all ages and backgrounds. BC Women’s is one of the largest maternity facilities in Canada, with over 7,000 births a year, and is both the major primary and secondary maternity services provider in the Lower Mainland and the cornerstone of the provincial tertiary care system. As an academic health centre, our mandate includes providing strong leadership in research and the education and professional development of health care professionals in areas related to the health of the populations we serve. BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre is a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).



PHSA plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.

PHSA and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre are committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.



One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support



Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.



Qualifications:
Current College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) License (Provisional); Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) (Mandatory); Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) (Eligible)