Division Chair/Chief and Academic General Surgeon

Division Chair/Chief and Academic General Surgeon
Department of Surgery, General Surgery
Western University
St. Joseph’s Health Care London, London Health Sciences Centre,

Posting Date:  January 14, 2022

Position Profile:  The Department of Surgery at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, is seeking an academic Chair/Chief for the Division of General Surgery with a vision to shape the Division for a five-year appointment, renewable once. This role is a full-time, limited term, clinical academic appointment at the rank of Associate Professor, or a continuing clinical academic appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor, depending upon experience and qualifications at the time of appointment. The desired leadership attributes and abilities of the Division Chair/Chief include: established excellence in the clinical, education and research domains; openness to innovative ideas, visionary and strategic thinking; excellence in leadership, communication, collaboration, advocacy skills to advance the academic and clinical mission; ability to support faculty development; a focus on and demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization initiatives; and transparent and strategic decision-making.

Division Profile: The Division of General Surgery is affiliated with London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London.  The Division has strong clinical, education and research interests and an accredited Royal College residency training program.  The Division consists of 31 full-time faculty and 24 residents providing care across two organizations, three hospital sites, and a stand-alone surgicentre, in the form of acute care, breast, bariatric, colorectal, hepatobiliary/pancreatic, transplant, endocrine, oncology, trauma, advanced MIS, therapeutic endoscopy, and paediatric general surgery.  

Academic and Clinical Expectations:  The successful candidate must have leadership and administrative skills and experience; including interacting with a multidisciplinary team of individuals in associated clinical Divisions and Departments, and leadership.  The position involves overseeing and providing all aspects of patient care, including the evaluation, management, and treatment of general surgical patients. The successful candidate must be interested in pursuing a strong academic leadership career and will be expected to guide and participate actively in the Division’s academic, research, and education initiatives. Applicants must be nationally or internationally recognized experts in their field and demonstrate the ability to publish in the highest quality academic and subspecialty outlets.

Qualifications:  The successful candidate must have an MD or equivalent; have completed an accredited general surgery training program and additional fellowship training; have demonstrated excellence in the clinical, education, and research domains; and be eligible for licensure in the Province of Ontario.  

Compensation Details:  Compensation for this position will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be primarily composed of the following sources: Fee for service (OHIP billings), Alternative Funding Plan, academic salary, workers safety insurance board and on-call reimbursement.

The City:  London, Ontario is Canada’s 10th largest city with a population of 400,000, a catchment area of 2.4 million, and is situated in southwestern Ontario between Toronto and Detroit.  The region has a strong economy and excellent educational opportunities.  It is a safe and diverse city and its numerous parks, trails, recreational, cultural and sporting opportunities make it an attractive place to live.  

The University:  Western University is a research-intensive university with full-time enrolment of 34,000 students and a full range of academic and professional programs.  The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry provides an outstanding educational experience within a research-intensive environment where tomorrow's physicians, dentists and health researchers learn to be socially responsible leaders in the advancement of human health.

To apply:  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Review of applications will begin after March 1, 2022 with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2022 or as negotiated.  Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and statement of academic qualifications, curriculum vitae, the names and addresses of three references, and also complete, sign and include the form at the following link: http://uwo.ca/facultyrelations/physicians/Application_FullTime_Clinical.pdf  to:

Emil H. Schemitsch, MD, FRCSC, FCAHS
Chair/Chief, Department of Surgery
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Room E3-117
268 Grosvenor St.
PO Box 5777, STN B
London, ON, Canada, N6A 4V2
Phone: 519.663.3349 Fax:  519.646-6347
E-mail: [email protected]

Business Addresses: Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, N., London, Ontario N6A 5B8, www.uwo.ca; 

London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road E., London Ontario, N6A 5W9, www.lhsc.on.ca; 

St. Joseph’s Health Care London, 268 Grosvenor Street, London Ontario, N6A 4V2, www.sjhc.london.on.ca

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communication skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Dr. Emil Schemitsch at 519-663-3349.

Effective September 7, 2021, all employees and visitors to campus are required to comply with Western’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.  Successful candidates will be also required to comply with the policies and protocols of the applicable affiliated institutions.