Urban Acute Surgical Hospitalist Program | Covenant Health | Edmonton, Alberta

Lead Clinical Excellence Across the Urban Acute Surgical Hospitalist Program

Covenant Health is seeking a respected and collaborative physician leader to serve as Surgical Hospitalist Medical Lead for the Urban Acute Surgical Hospitalist Program, serving Grey Nuns Community Hospital and Misericordia Community Hospital.

This leadership position offers an opportunity to shape the strategic direction and ongoing development of the program while supporting physician engagement, quality improvement, patient flow, operational excellence, and innovative models of care. The successful candidate will work closely with physicians, operational leaders, and healthcare partners to advance high-quality, patient-centred surgical inpatient care across both hospitals.

About the Role

The Surgical Hospitalist Medical Lead provides leadership and oversight for Surgical Hospitalist physicians practicing within the Urban Acute Surgical Hospitalist Program, serving Grey Nuns Community Hospital and Misericordia Community Hospital.

The Medical Lead serves as a critical link between:

• Surgical Hospitalist physicians across both hospital sites
• Operational and program leadership teams
• Covenant Health senior medical leadership
• Provincial and zone-level clinical partners
• Medical Affairs and physician workforce planning teams

Working closely with the Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO), Urban Acute and Primary Care and the Provincial Program Medical Lead (Medicine), the Surgical Hospitalist Medical Lead advances program priorities, supports physician workforce planning, and helps ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centred care.

Key Responsibilities

Medical Leadership & Program Development

• Provide leadership to Surgical Hospitalist physicians and foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Represent the Surgical Hospitalist Program within Covenant Health and with external partners and stakeholders.
• Support physician engagement, communication, mentorship, and professional development.
• Act as a liaison between physicians, operational leaders, and Medical Affairs to advance program goals across Grey Nuns Community Hospital and Misericordia Community Hospital.

Operations, Quality & Patient Safety

• Partner with operational leaders to support service planning, patient flow, and program priorities.
• Champion quality improvement, patient safety, evidence-informed practice, and excellence in patient care.
• Promote consistent clinical standards, operational practices, and effective use of the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Support organizational priorities including accreditation, patient experience, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Physician Support & Workforce Planning

• Foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, wellness, and continuous learning.
• Support the management of physician concerns and collaborate with medical leadership as required.
• Assist with physician recruitment, onboarding, retention, and succession planning.
• Work with Medical Affairs and operational leaders to help ensure a sustainable physician workforce for the Urban Acute Surgical Hospitalist Program.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) with eligibility for licensure in Alberta.
• Active member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
• Current clinical practice with experience caring for surgical inpatients.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and the ability to influence within a complex healthcare environment.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to quality improvement, patient safety, physician engagement, and system transformation.
• Experience leading teams across multiple sites or programs is considered an asset.
• Formal leadership training and/or previous medical leadership experience is preferred.

Appointment Details

• Position: Surgical Hospitalist Medical Lead
• FTE: 0.1
• Program: Urban Acute Surgical Hospitalist Program
• Sites: Grey Nuns Community Hospital and Misericordia Community Hospital
• Term: Initial three-year term with renewal opportunities in accordance with Covenant Health Medical Leadership policies
• Reporting To: Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO), Urban Acute and Primary Care, and Provincial Program Medical Lead (Medicine)
• Remuneration: In accordance with Covenant Health Medical Leadership agreements