Physician Recruitment
Oncology Program Medical Director, Niagara Health System
and
Deputy Regional Vice-President, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health
Integration Network Regional Cancer Program
The Niagara Health System (NHS) is Ontario's largest hospital amalgamation comprised of seven sites serving 411,000 residents across 12 municipalities making up the Regional Municipality of Niagara. It forms a sophisticated and innovative network of health services that stretch from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. In the beautiful Niagara Region, you will find food, wine and recreation par excellence as well as the world renowned Brock University
and Niagara College. It is a great place to raise a family and yet is close to major metropolitan centres. Niagara is also participating in McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine distributive education program; 15 students registered at the
Niagara campus are part of the medical school’s largest first year class of 183 students.
The NHS consists of three large community hospitals – the Greater Niagara General Site in Niagara Falls, the St. Catharines General Site, and the Welland Site; an ambulatory care centre at the Ontario Street Site in St. Catharines; and three small sites - the Douglas Memorial Site in Fort Erie, Niagara-on-the-Lake Site, and Port Colborne General Site.
Currently, the Oncology Program provides outpatient services, including consultation, diagnostic procedures, education, support, treatment and follow-up at the St. Catharines General Site. Cancers treated include breast, lung, lymphomas, bowel, prostate and leukemias. The Clinic is also active in Clinical Trials. The Clinic has a longstanding relationship with the Juravinski Cancer Centre (JCC), Hamilton Health Sciences. Radiation Oncologists travel from Hamilton to Niagara to provide consultation and assessment services. There are also peripheral outpatient Oncology clinics at the Greater Niagara General and Welland Hospital Sites where follow-up care is provided as well as assessment of in clients at those sites, promoting care as close to home as possible.
The NHS also participates in Cancer Care Ontario’s (CCO) provincial screening initiatives such as ColonCancerCheck and the Ontario Breast Screening Program. Further, the NHS delivers surgical oncology services across Niagara and is committed to furthering CCO’s provincial quality initiatives such as multi-disciplinary case conferences and pathology synoptic reporting.
The Oncology Program will evolve to a full-service Cancer Centre at time of opening of the new healthcare complex in St. Catharines, anticipated in 2013. Three Linear Accelerators will be operational at time of opening. As a result of a generous philanthropic donation from Walker Industries, it will be known as the Walker Family Cancer Centre.
The Medical Director for the Oncology Program will provide leadership in the development of the Walker Family Cancer Centre consistent with the policies of the NHS and in keeping
with CCO guidelines. As outlined in the attached position description, a key responsibility
will be to provide clinical leadership for all aspects of the Oncology Program at the Niagara
Health System, including the establishment of an inaugural Department of Oncology as
well as academic leadership within the Academic Department of Oncology at McMaster
University. Within the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration
Network, the Oncology Program Medical Director will also serve as Deputy Regional Vice-President for cancer services under the overall leadership of the Regional Vice-President
appointed by Cancer Care Ontario.
Candidates should be Royal College certified, be eligible to practice in the Province of
Ontario, and have expertise in a discipline of oncology. It is desirable that the successful
candidate have demonstrated academic strength in research and/or teaching and excellent
clinical abilities. Demonstrated leadership abilities and excellent communication skills are a
prerequisite.
This is a 5 year term position which is renewable subject to a performance review.
This is a part-time administrative position to begin as early as possible. Associated clinical time may be negotiated. Interested persons should forward their letter of interest and Curriculum Vitae no later than May 1, 2009 to:
Dr. Joanna Hope, MRCS LRCP DRCOG
Interim Chief of Staff
Niagara Health System
155 Ontario Street
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2R 5K3
Attention: Dr. Joanna Hope MRCS LRCP DRCOG
Fax to (905) 323-3800
Email: bcowell@niagarahealth.on.ca
In accordance with immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
We would like to thank all who apply, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Accountability Statement for the Niagara Health System
Oncology Program Medical Director and Cancer Care Ontario
Deputy Vice President, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN:
The Medical Director for the Oncology Program for the Niagara Health System will fulfill all generic responsibilities associated with the role of a Program Medical Director and Chief of the Department of Oncology as per the By-Laws of the Niagara Health System.
The Program Medical Director will function within the Niagara health system in a trilateral leadership role and work collaboratively with the Program Director and the Clinical Vice President accountable for the Program.
The Program Medical Director will also serve as the Deputy Regional Vice President for the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN and participate in regional cancer planning and implementation according to Cancer Care Ontario’s provincial cancer plan under the leadership of Cancer Care Ontario's Regional Vice President. The additional accountabilities, roles and responsibilities associated with this position as outlined below.
The Roles
The Oncology Program Medical Director, in partnership with the Program Director and the Clinical Vice President will provide leadership to the development of the NHS Oncology Program in the Walker Family Cancer Centre and within the institutions that make up the Niagara Health System.
Within the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN, the Oncology Program Medical
Director will also serve as Deputy Regional Vice President for cancer services under the
overall leadership of the Regional Vice President appointed by Cancer Care Ontario. It
is expected that the Deputy RVP will actively participate in the work of the Regional
Planning and Priorities Committee as it sets its agenda guided by the Ontario Cancer
Plan and regional priorities. The goal of program activities is the delivery of high-quality,
coordinated, cost-effective, patient centered care and cancer control. The NHS
Oncology Program is expected to be a key component of an integrated cancer program
within the HNHB LHIN. The Deputy RVP will interact with a range of institutional and
non-institutional providers of cancer care and cancer control within the geographic
region served by the NHS, and work collaboratively with the Director of Regional Cancer
Programs, the Regional Program Leads and Regional Networks.
Roles and Responsibilities
The following are some of the roles and responsibilities of the Oncology Program Medical Director working with the Niagara Health System Oncology Program Team.
A. Participate in cancer service planning within NHS, both for the Walker Family Cancer Centre and all of the institutions that make up NHS
B. In collaboration with institutional and non-institutional partners, identify and lead strategies to meet local needs for service integration, coordination, and quality improvement
C. Ensure that local plans and strategies are effectively conceived, resourced and managed to ensure successful completion
D. Involve patients and consumers in planning and evaluation.
E. Support the adoption of provincial standards as developed through Cancer Care Ontario to improve clinical practice and cancer service within NHS.
F. Support and facilitate research and education in the cancer program, in collaboration with the McMaster Department of Oncology.
G. Disseminate information about the institution’s performance to relevant stakeholders and, as appropriate, stimulate or lead quality improvement initiatives.
H. Leverage funding to engage practice leaders and providers.
I. Work collaboratively with the functional planning group to develop the Walker Family Cancer Center as part of the new St. Catharines Healthcare Complex, with particular emphasis on Program development and expansion along with workforce planning and recruitment
J. Actively support cancer fundraising activities, when called upon to do so.
As the Deputy Regional Vice President, the following are the role expectations:
A. Participate in the development of the Ontario Cancer Plan
B. Under the leadership of the Regional Vice President for Cancer Care Ontario, establish regional cancer control priorities and implementation strategies
C. Participate as a member of the Regional Cancer Planning and Priorities
Committee
D. Work collaboratively with the Director, Regional Cancer Programs and the
Regional Program Leads
E. Participate in Regional Cancer Network meetings, as appropriate
bSupport efforts to integrate cancer services and cancer informatics to the benefit
of patients and providers
G. Support the development and adoption of provincial cancer standards through Cancer Care Ontario
H. Lead quality improvement initiatives and disseminate data on regional cancer system performance to stakeholders
I. Support and facilitate research and education in the cancer program, in
collaboration with the McMaster Department of Oncology