MEDICAL DIRECTOR CHRONIC PAIN PROGRAM

The Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is seeking to recruit an Academic Anesthesiologist as Medical Director of the Chronic Pain Program. The successful candidate must be eligible for a full-time clinical academic appointment at the rank of Lecturer/Assistant/Associate/Full Professor at the University of Toronto. The candidate must also meet the criteria for appointment to the title of Clinician-Scientist/Investigator/Educator/Teacher/Administrator as described by the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. Start date for this position is flexible.

The Chronic Pain Service at SickKids is a world-leading program drawing local, national, and international referrals. The clinic is the largest pediatric chronic pain clinic in Canada and has served as a training ground for current leaders in the field of pediatric pain across disciplines, including an annual dedicated Chronic Pain Fellowship. Our multidisciplinary team includes physicians (5), a Chronic Pain Fellow, Advanced Practice Nurses, rehabilitation therapists (i.e., physiotherapists, occupational therapist), psychologists, and dedicated office staff (Clinical Manager, Data Analyst and Administrative), providing care for patients in multidisciplinary outpatient clinics and SickKids inpatient units. A clinical registry informs both patient care and research. These offerings are complemented by a separate off-site innovative inpatient/outpatient intensive pain program providing multidimensional pain therapy and rehabilitation for patients with high levels of pain-related disability. The Chronic Pain Service complements longitudinal pediatric pain care at SickKids, including a first-in-kind pediatric Transitional Pain Service, and a well-established Acute Pain Service. A strong collaborative relationship between members exists across all three services, which are expected to become more fully integrated over time. Strong research and educational programs are well-integrated into clinical service delivery. Our comprehensive Pediatric Pain Fellowship Program is highly sought after, and many graduating Fellows have become leaders of their own programs. Members of the pain services are part of the SickKids Pain Centre, a virtual centre of stakeholders at SickKids with a vested interest in pain. SickKids is the first ChildKind Certified hospital in Canada and is a hub lead for Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP) – a national knowledge mobilization network aimed at closing the evidence to practice gap.

The primary focus of the appointment is leadership of the Chronic Pain Service, but the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at SickKids plans to expand the clinical, education and research capacities of the wider Department to meet the growing demands for specialized tertiary-level surgical and medical care provided by the Hospital. Clinical activities of the successful applicant will include the intraoperative and perioperative care of children undergoing all types of surgical management, including neurosurgical, general/thoracic, plastic/craniofacial, orthopedic/spine, and otorhinolaryngology. The Department provides care to children undergoing a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including diagnostic and interventional radiology, GI, oncology, and burn injury management. The Department is active in the education of anesthesia trainees, including medical students, residents, and fellows affiliated with the University of Toronto. Additional opportunities may include participation in the Acute Pain Service, Paediatric ECHO for pain, Pre-Anesthesia Clinic, Simulation, Sedation, Quality and Patient Safety, Bioinformatics, and a variety of administrative roles within the Department and hospital. Incumbents with strong research credentials and a prepared academic plan have the opportunity to access world-class research support through Departmental resources and through our affiliation with the SickKids Research Institute.

The successful applicant should have a record of leadership and accomplishment relevant to the field of Pediatric Chronic Pain. We expect the successful candidate to continue building the academic pediatric pain management program and to collaborate with other Departments at SickKids and the University of Toronto Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. The successful applicant will spend portions of their clinical time in Chronic Pain Clinics and the Operating Room, with dedicated administrative / academic time.

Academic rank will be determined by the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate, ideally appointed at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at the University of Toronto. The individual will be expected to achieve excellence in an overall mix of clinical care, scholarship, and administration, required to advance clinical medicine and institutional service appropriate to programmatic need.

The successful candidate must hold an MD (or equivalent), a strong clinical/educational background, with advanced fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia. The successful candidate will deliver clinical pediatric anesthesia services and is expected to complement the Department’s academic, educational and research productivity and will be expected to develop an academic plan with clear deliverables at the 1, 3 and 5 year marks. In addition, the successful applicant must be eligible for certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Candidates must be able to function proficiently in English, and obtain an appropriate visa, if applicable.

Remuneration will be competitive with other academic pediatric anesthesia positions in Canada, with a salary range of $265,000-$450,000 CAD per year for 35 hours per week plus on call responsibilities to which will be added an equal distribution of billing overages.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Should you be interested in this opportunity, please forward a one-page statement of interest, curriculum vitae and the names and contact information of three referees via email to:

Recruitment Committee
Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
SickKids Hospital
555 University Avenue
Toronto, ON
Canada
M5G 1X8
Email: anesthesia.hiring@sickkids.ca

Sick Kids Hospital is an Academic Medical Centre affiliated with the University of Toronto, with a mission to improve the health of children through the integration of care, research, and education by partnering locally and globally. The Hospital, located at 555 University Avenue in downtown Toronto, is among the largest children’s hospitals in North America. It is an exciting time at SickKids as we execute our campus redevelopment project, including a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital tower.

Toronto is a vibrant and multicultural city. It is currently the fourth largest city in North America and boasts a safe, livable, downtown area with excellent housing, schools and university access. World famous lake and wilderness country and year-round outdoor recreation are easily accessible, as are two hub airports for regional or international travel.

The University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children are strongly committed to diversity within its community. Both institutions recognize systemic barriers that impact equity seeking groups. As such, we welcome applications from historically marginalized groups including Black, Indigenous, and Racialized people, women, LGBTQIA+, and/or persons with disabilities. The Department recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have influenced their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record. The Department further supports an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, Anastasia Vogt, Manager, Business Operations anastasia.vogt@sickkids.ca.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Only those applicants selected for the interview will be contacted.