Call for Applications - City-wide Chair/Chief, Department of Psychiatry

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario (UWO), London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph's Health Care London, invite applications/nominations for the position of Chair/Chief of the Department of Psychiatry.

The Department of Psychiatry is one of the larger clinical academic departments at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The vision for the Department of Psychiatry is to be a centre of excellence for psychiatric care and discovery in Southwestern Ontario with a mission to translate clinical research into treatment and provide regional consultation within interdisciplinary models of care.

The Department of Psychiatry in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western has established a standard of excellence in its academic endeavours that has grown out of the development of strong divisions with committed leaders. Each division is headed by an academic chair and several have a chair/chief role, mirroring the Chair/Chief role of the Department of Psychiatry head.

There is overlap and collaboration across the divisions, ensuring a strong centralized academic department; the divisions also provide opportunity for individuals with specific interest and expertise to thrive academically. Each academic division has a strong link, through membership, with clinical programs in our affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutions. This provides the academic substrate for teaching and training, research and clinical service. These linkages are fostered by a shared administrative leadership model that replicates, at all levels, the partnership between the Vice-President Mental Health Services and the Chair/Chief/Senior Medical Director for Psychiatry. Our affiliated teaching institutions include London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, CPRI and Madame Vanier Children's Centre. Our research affiliations are with Lawson Health Research Institute and Robarts Research Institute.

The new Chair/Chief must have the vision to expand the strengths of integrated teaching and research programs aligned with the University, Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Science Centre and St Joseph's Health Care, London. He/She will be a strong leader/administrator and an excellent communicator, able to realize the departmental mission and goals through collaboration and advocacy with its partners and to the community. He/She will work collaboratively with basic and clinical scientists and clinicians. A candidate with a strong track record of teaching, research and clinical service accomplishments is desired. The successful candidate must be an accomplished clinician with an MD or equivalent and eligible for licensure in Ontario. Academic rank and contractual arrangements will commensurate with experience and qualification.

London, Ontario is a vibrant city of 350,000 people, originally settled in 1826 at the forks of the Thames River. It boasts The University of Western Ontario with nearly 30000 undergraduate and graduate students, the London Health Sciences Centre and St Joseph's Health Care, London which serve a population base of more than 2 million southern Ontario residents. London has affordable housing and is close to great lakes and has outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities. The city has an active arts and sports community, international airport and is an easy commute to both Toronto, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by the deadline of October 15, 2010 with CV and letter of application together with the names and addresses of three references. The position will remain open until filled.

Dr. Michael Strong, Dean and

Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, Integrated Vice President, Medical Education & Medical Affairs

c/o Heather Frankling

Selection Committee Coordinator

Schulich Schoolof Medicine & Dentistry

Room 3720

The University of Western Ontario

London, Ontario N6A 5C1