Head, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for the position of Head, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. The successful candidate is expected to have a strong background in academic leadership as well as experience in sustaining and strengthening collaborations with other academic units. The successful applicant is also expected to establish strong clinical and administrative linkages with all six Health Authorities at a provincial, regional and community level across British Columbia. This position is for a five (5) year term with the possibility of renewal, subject to satisfactory review. It is expected that the successful candidate will qualify for and be offered a full-time UBC appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure and will also hold the S. M. Drance Chair in Ophthalmology within the Faculty of Medicine.

This position is located within a health-care facility. Therefore, this position requires successful verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by the provincial health mandate.

The UBC Faculty of Medicine is committed to fostering excellence in education, research, and service that contributes to the health of individuals and communities locally, nationally, and internationally. The Faculty of Medicine, together with its partners including B.C.’s Health Authorities, provides innovative programs in the areas of health and life sciences through a province-wide delivery model. The Faculty teaches students at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels and generates more than $350 million in research funding each year.  The Department Head will provide leadership by creating and advancing a provincial departmental mission, strategic plan and goals that align with the Faculty and the University.  The Head will create an environment that promotes the Faculty’s values of excellence, mutual respect, caring, and integrity where civility, diversity, opportunity, and inclusion are valued and central to all encounters across the Faculty, the University, and the communities.

The UBC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences includes members at teaching sites distributed across the Province of British Columbia. Altogether, there are 222 faculty members - 17 full-time academic appointments, 187 clinical appointments, 16 emeritus/honorary appointments and 2 associate members. The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is associated with several teaching facilities, including Vancouver General Hospital, St Paul’s Hospital (Providence Health Care group), UBC Hospital, BC Children’s Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital, BC Cancer Agency-Vancouver Site and private clinics.

The UBC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science is the only academic Ophthalmology Department in the province, providing teaching to undergraduate medical students, Ophthalmology residents, postdoctoral research fellows and Ophthalmology clinical fellows both locally and internationally.

The Faculty of Medicine is seeking applicants with a strong record of research and innovation in Ophthalmology and a background of proven productive collaboration with Clinicians and Basic Scientists. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in an academic and/or administrative leadership roles and a demonstrated ability to support the career development and mentorship of faculty members, with excellence in teaching and a commitment to undergraduate and graduate education. The successful candidate will have a proven record of scholarly excellence in research at an international level and have demonstrated experience in fostering engagement and inclusivity across the working and learning environment.

A more detailed job description is available in the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Medicine.  Please enquire at the email address below.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. A letter of application that addresses scholarly, professional and creative work, teaching, administrative service, experience fostering collaboration, inclusiveness equity and diversity, accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae, and the names of four referees (at arm’s length), should be directed to:

Dermot Kelleher, MB, MD, FRCP, FRCPI, FMedSci, FCAHS, FRCPC, AGAF
Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Vice President, Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
c/o Nadia Sheikh, Assistant Manager, Searches and Reviews
Email: [email protected]

Subject Line: Head, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Candidates, internal or external to the University, are eligible to apply. Review of applications will begin February 14, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2022, or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone.

Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty—comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and
over 10,000 clinical faculty members—is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 23 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

med.ubc.ca | https://ophthalmology.med.ubc.ca/