Department Head, Family Medicine and Medicine and Clinical Academic Position (2 Positions)

The School of Medicine at York University invites highly qualified applicants for two (2) Clinical Assistant, Clinical Associate or Clinical Full Professor positions to commence November 1, 2026. The successful candidates will be appointed as Department Head in either Family Medicine or Medicine with an initial 5-year term, with the possibility of renewal. The roles are expected to require 2-3 days per week, with flexible scheduling intended to complement active clinical practice. These are open clinical faculty appointments in the Clinical Professorial Stream, as described in the University's Clinical Faculty Appointments Policy. The successful candidates will have an appointment in their home department - Family Medicine or Medicine - in the School of Medicine but may have a joint appointment across two Departments (i.e., Family Medicine, Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Surgery, Community & Population Health & Health Systems Transformation, Anesthesia, Medical Imaging, or Pathology, Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine).

Reporting to the Dean, School of Medicine, and working closely with the Vice-Dean, Integrated Community-based Learning Network (ICLN) & Health Systems, the Department Head is the senior University academic leader for the Department across York's ICLN. The Department Head provides overall academic leadership and direction for their department, ensuring alignment with the School's mission to educate clinically excellent, person-centred physicians who deliver high-quality, community-based primary and generalist care. The Head is accountable for the Department's academic strategy, faculty appointments and development, contributions to undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education, research and scholarship, community engagement, and stewardship of University and other delegated academic resources.

Through its ICLN, the School is advancing a distributed model of medical education that connects learners to diverse clinical settings, reinforcing its commitment to community engagement from the outset. The School operates through a decentralized, multi-site model encompassing affiliated hospitals, community-based clinical practices, Indigenous Primary Care Organizations, and other ICLN partners, while aligning academic priorities, educational standards, and accreditation requirements and promoting high-quality, equitable, and inclusive academic programs across distributed clinical sites. The Department Head is responsible for building a coherent department across these sites, developing a shared academic identity, strategy, standards and culture for the department across the network while recognizing the governance, clinical accountability, institutional priorities and distinctive contributions of each participating hospital and community practice. The Head will work in a matrix relationship with hospital Chiefs and Physicians-in-Chief, site academic leads, primary care leaders, Program Directors, division and section leads, and other School leaders to align local clinical environments with the Department's academic mission. The appointment does not confer authority as a hospital Chief or clinical service leader; responsibility for clinical operations, credentialing, privileging, clinical performance, quality and safety, and local clinical resources remains with the relevant hospital or practice organization.

The Head will establish effective departmental governance that provides meaningful representation from each hospital and the developing primary care network, supports consistent academic standards and equitable access to opportunities across sites, and enables local leaders to implement shared departmental priorities in ways that are responsive to their communities and organizations.

The Department Heads lead the recruitment, appointment, development, mentorship, and ongoing support of clinical faculty, ensuring processes are equitable, transparent, and compliant with university policy, professional standards, and regulatory expectations. They foster inclusive research cultures and advance departmental scholarship in clinical practice, medical education, health systems, and community-engaged research, while overseeing departmental resources, academic resources, governance processes, and partnerships that support sustainable education, research, and clinical missions across the ICLN. The Department Head will also support strategic collaborations beyond existing affiliated and ICLN partner organizations where these relationships advance education, learner experiences, research and scholarship, innovation, and health-system improvement in alignment with the School's academic mission, accreditation standards, and community-based model.

The Department Heads champion equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigenous engagement, and decolonization across departmental activities, including faculty recruitment, curriculum development, research, clinical practice, and community partnerships. Working collaboratively with the Associate Dean, Indigenous Health, Indigenous Primary Care Organizations, Indigenous Health Circles, and community partners, the Department Heads support the integration of Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and practices into departmental education, research, and clinical practice, while helping to identify and address systemic barriers to participation and advancement. The roles also support implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action related to health education, faculty development, and Indigenous health leadership.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Degree:
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD) or equivalent medical degree, with eligibility for licensure to practice medicine in Ontario.
  • Specialty Certification:
    • Certification in the discipline of the program, in good standing, by the appropriate national certifying body, as applicable:
      • College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for Family Medicine; or
      • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) in Internal Medicine or recognized medical subspecialty, or an equivalent qualification acceptable for licensure and academic appointment in Ontario.
  • Hold appropriate Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
  • Maintain an active appointment to the medical staff of a York-affiliated hospital, primary care practice, or other health care organization.

• Scholarship:
  • A coherent and well-articulated program of scholarly activity related to clinical practice, medical education, health systems, or capacity-building.
  • A record of contributions to the advancement of knowledge through research, quality improvement, or evidence-based practice in the department's discipline.
  • Evidence of impact through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, research grants, or other forms of scholarly dissemination.
  • Engagement with professional communities and academic networks, demonstrating commitment to advancing the discipline and medical education.

• Teaching:
  • A record of contributions to medical education program design, implementation, and evaluation across undergraduate, postgraduate, and/or continuing professional development.
  • Demonstrated excellence in teaching and supervising medical learners, such as through teaching awards, positive evaluations, or recognition by learners and peers.
  • Commitment to fostering inclusive, learner-centred educational environments that support diverse learners and promote equity and cultural safety.
    
    
• Additional:
  • Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in academic medicine or health system administration, with increasing responsibility for academic, clinical, and/or operational oversight.
  • Demonstrated success in strategic planning, change leadership, and organizational development, including aligning educational programs with institutional priorities and health system needs.
  • Demonstrated financial literacy and resource stewardship, including experience with budget planning, financial oversight, and responsible allocation of academic and clinical resources. Knowledge of Ontario's clinical funding models (e.g., AFPs, APPs, and Physician Services Agreements).
  • Knowledge of Canadian medical education accreditation and regulatory frameworks, including CACMS standards for MD programs and RCPSC/CFPC requirements for postgraduate
  • Experience with distributed or community-based medical education is preferred, reflecting decentralized teaching models and community engagement.
  • Demonstrated ability in negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus building, with experience managing complex interpersonal and organizational issues.
  • Experience in faculty recruitment, performance management, and academic clinical appointment, reappointment and promotion processes, with a solid understanding of academic career pathways and university governance.
  • The successful candidates will be collaborative, inclusive, and strategic leaders with the ability to build strong relationships across academic, clinical, community, and health system They will demonstrate sound judgment, organizational acumen, professionalism, and a commitment to fostering excellence, innovation, equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous engagement across all aspects of departmental leadership.

Hiring Policies:

• Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and
• All York University positions are subject to budgetary
• York welcomes and employs scholars from all over the world. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Clinical faculty are hired in their professional capacity as a member of the medical profession because they are required to apply their medical training, medical knowledge, and medical skills in connection with the performance of their duties and
• York has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Applicants who require accommodation are invited to contact Nicole Lewis, Manager, Office of the Dean, School of Medicine at [email protected].

Application Process:

• Due date for completed applications: September 11,
• Required materials: 1) current CV; 2) Cover letter with statement outlining the candidate's leadership experience and vision for building and leading a multi-site academic department, including their approach to partnership with hospital and primary care leaders, distributed governance, faculty development, education, research and health-system engagement; 3) Name and full contact details for three referees at the time of application. Only referees of short-listed candidates will be contacted.
• Provide required information regarding your Canadian work status and optional self-identification for Affirmative Action purposes as part of the online application at this link: YUWorkAA.
• Direct questions about the position to Anne-Marie Roze, HR Project Manager, at [email protected].
• Submit materials at: [email protected].
  • Applicants must clearly state the specific Department Head role(s) for which they are applying in the subject line of the application email (e.g., Application - Department Head, Family Medicine).

Learn More About the Faculty of Health and the School of Medicine:

• The Faculty of Health is one of Canada's most comprehensive, with innovative programs across four schools (Global Health, Kinesiology and Health Science, Nursing, and Health Policy & Management) and a Department (Psychology). The Faculty of Health Strategic Plan outlines its ambitions to contribute to a healthy and just 21st century world.
• The Faculty of Health (FOH) is dedicated to promoting truth and reconciliation, accessibility, equity, and inclusivity throughout its academic and research programs, campus spaces, operations, and overall institutional culture. This commitment is a key strategic focus, with particular emphasis on integrating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
• York University is launching a transformative School of Medicine (SOM) within its Faculty of Health, with a mission to educate clinically excellent, person-centred physicians to deliver high-quality, community-based primary and generalist care, grounded in social accountability, interprofessional collaboration, and immersive In parallel, the School advances research and discovery that improves lives and strengthens health systems. As we establish the SOM and grow relationships with local communities, Indigenous Peoples & communities, clinical organizations and providers to help meet the health needs of the communities we serve, we seek to advance reconciliation by embedding Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing in our curriculum, research, and practice.
• The Integrated Community-based Learning Network (ICLN) is a dynamic, decentralized model of education and health service delivery that connects and strengthens care across communities. Spanning the School of Medicine's service areas the network unites hospitals, community centres, primary care clinics, Indigenous Primary Health Care Organizations, long-term care homes, rehabilitation services, and social supports to deliver on education and scholarly work within their community. Founded in the design of a learning health system, the ICLN joins local networks within Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) with each other in a shared commitment to better health. The ICLN is designed to ensure patients and communities receive comprehensive, accessible, and continuous care. At the same time, it serves as a rich learning environment for future healthcare professionals. Medical students, residents, and other learners are able to train across diverse care settings and collaborate within interprofessional teams, preparing them to deliver compassionate, coordinated care where it is needed most.

Learn More About York:

• York University generates and shares knowledge through our research, teaching and engagement with communities around the world. The 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan showcases the depth, breadth and ambition of research at York.
• York's commitments to social justice are laid out in our Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the Framework & Action Plan on Black Inclusion and the Indigenous Framework for York University.
• Follow the activities and accomplishments of York's faculty, students and staff on YFile.

First Nations peoples have lived on this part of Turtle Island for millennia, stewarding the land, the water and all that contributes to life in this region. Today, the culture and presence of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples enrich the lands and people of this territory. More than two centuries ago, the Mississauga people welcomed settlers to this territory, providing sustenance and engaging in trade and commerce. Today, York University campuses are located on the Toronto Purchase Treaty No. 13 lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the lands of the Anishinabek of the Williams Treaties First Nations. Our campuses are also situated on the traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. Treaty history is foundational, and it is our collective responsibility to honour the land, as we honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be learning, working and thriving on this land, and we commit to learn the truth and be active in the process of reconciliation.