Medical Health Officer - Medical Director (Mho-md)

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations, and is home to six Métis Chartered Communities. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care. Learn more.

We are seeking committed and driven Medical Health Officers - Medical Directors (MHO-MD) who want to lead and implement programs that make a difference in our communities. This is a dynamic and pivotal role that provides the opportunity to apply skills and training in generalist public health practice, as well as undertake strategy and operations work within a regional portfolio, and develop connections from the local to provincial level.

The incoming candidate will work under the direction of the Vice President, Public Health (VP, PH) and report directly to Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) for legislated duties, as well as work closely with the Executive Medical Director, Population and Public Health (ED, PPH) for regional portfolio MD duties. The next MHO-MD will be a progressive health care leader who promotes cultural safety, encourages new health care initiatives and programs, and is passionate about quality in public health.

The Medical Health Officer - Medical Director is accountable for:

• Working in partnership with Clinical Directors to provide specialized strategic oversight and management of Population and Public Health programs and services, in areas including communicable disease, health protection, immunizations, maternal-child health, population health promotion and others.
• Geographical medical health officer coverage within the Fraser East, Fraser North, or Fraser South areas, including community health, school health, health protection, and communicable disease, with support from local teams.
• Leading MHO statutory programs for Fraser Health and the Province, as determined by the VP, PH and CMHO.
• Legislated responsibilities to the Province, Municipalities, Regional Districts, and School Boards to align professional standards for MHO’s in BC, as identified by the Provincial Health Officer.
• Building and enhancing effective partnerships with academic institutions, professional associations and other community and clinical settings.
• Championing new healthcare initiatives and programs in support of Fraser Health’s strategic goals and objectives.

The successful candidate will have:

• Completed Medical Degree and eligible for full license to practice medicine in BC as well as completion of Masters in Health Sciences (or equivalent education).
• FRCPC Designation in Public Health and Preventive Medicine/Community Medicine is required.
• Demonstrated experience with health program administration and management, including serving on medical advisory committees, management of program budgets and labour relations, and community advisory committees.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgement, action and discretion in performing responsibilities.
• Current BC Driver’s License and access to transportation for business-related purposes is required.

If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about this unique opportunity with Fraser Health, please contact Paul Phillips, Interim Director, Executive and Senior Leadership Acquisition by emailing paul.phillips1@fraserhealth.ca.

Fraser Health values diversity in the work force and strives to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring & Trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Supporting the Vision, Values, Purpose and Commitments of Fraser Health

Under the direction of the VP PH and CMHO for geographic and legislated MHO duties, and the Executive Medical Director, Population and Public Health (EMD PPH) for regional portfolio MD duties, the MHO-MD is responsible for working in partnership with Clinical Directors to provide strategic oversight and management of PPH programs and services, and for leading MHO statutory programs for Fraser Health (FH) and the Province, as determined by the VP PH and CMHO.

The MHO-MD has legislated responsibilities to the Province, Municipalities, Regional Districts, and to School Boards and complies with the professional standards for MHOs in British Columbia as identified by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO). These responsibilities are reviewed by the VP PH and CMHO.

This position involves the provision of geographic coverage in the Fraser East, Fraser North, or Fraser South areas as well as regional responsibilities for specific programs and services.

Specific duties for each MHO-MD within FH will be determined by the VP PH and CMHO in accordance with the needs of FH and may be subject to change as required within the following key responsibility areas:

• Statutory/Legislative Requirements
• Management
• Community Medicine/Public Health Preventive Medicine Consultant
• Population Health
• Community Health Planning, Evaluation, Research and Program Development
• Advocacy

The specific duties for each MHO-MD within FH will be determined by the VP PH and CMHO in accordance with the needs of FH.

Statutory & Legislative -- Responsible for carrying out the legislated requirements of the Public Health Act, Community Care Facility and Assisted Living Act, Drinking Water Protection Act, School Act, any regulations pursuant to these Acts, and health legislation pursuant to the Local Government Act, and any other legislation enacted that names the MHO-MD, including responsibility for communicable disease prevention and control, and for carrying out statutory functions within the Health Authority. The statutory functions are primarily for a specified geographic area within the Health Authority.

Management -- Working in partnership with PPH Clinical Directors, the MHO-MD provides strong clinical leadership with joint decision making accountability for the delivery of PPH regional programs and services. Areas of co-decision include:

• setting priorities and strategic planning for the regional programs/services of co-leadership;
• high-level operations that relate to significant changes or affect strategic outcomes;
• budget recommendations;
• identifying and addressing capacity gaps;
• internal and external communications.

The designated regional or geographic MHO-MD is the lead for coordinating issues/communications management within PPH where PPH is the lead program.

Community Medicine/Public Health Preventive Medicine Consultant -- Provides evidence-based opinions to and works collaboratively with FH staff, physicians, municipal councils, school boards, other government ministries and the community on a wide variety of public health issues including communicable diseases, environmental health issues, non-communicable disease prevention/health promotion, injury prevention, health equity, and emergency preparedness and response. May develop focused special knowledge and provide leadership in this focused area of community medicine/public health preventive medicine practice.

On behalf of PPH, leads engagement with physicians within and outside of the Health Authority.

Population Health -- Responsible for monitoring and assessing the health status of the community, supporting the VP PH and CMHO in making recommendations for strategies to address health issues to the Board and for providing leadership on implementing immediate actions when necessary to protect the health of the public. Responsible for monitoring the data and statistics on a broad range of health and health related issues, analyzing trends and problems, interpreting these concerns and for preparing reports, briefs, and profiles on the significant health and health-related issues affecting the community, and regionally, as per portfolio responsibilities.

Community Health Planning, Evaluation, Research and Program Development -- May assist in the evaluation of the effectiveness of health programs and the planning and evaluation of programs designed to address emerging health issues. May be involved in developing reports at a regional level whereby FH and the public are provided with an account of the performance of the health care system in the region in comparison with standards/guidelines or other regions. May be involved in research projects on the effectiveness or efficiency of public health interventions.

Advocacy -- Responsible for advocating for actions that will improve the health of populations. Communicates directly with the public through the media and other means and with elected officials on health issues affecting the community. Supports the VP PH and CMHO in advising the Executive and Board about health concerns and contributes to health planning for the region.

The MHO-MD participates in the FH MHO call group, as per the terms and conditions specified in the MOCAP contract, pursuant to the Doctors of BC agreement.

Education and Experience

A Medical Degree and eligibility for a full license to practice medicine in British Columbia plus a Masters in Health Sciences (or equivalent qualifications to MHSc). A FRCP(C) in Public Health and Preventive Medicine / Community Medicine is required. Additionally, experience with health program administration and management including serving on medical advisory committees, program management responsibility (including budgets and labour relations) and community advisory committees would be beneficial. Proven ability to exercise independent judgment, action and discretion in the carrying out of responsibilities.

Current BC Driver's License and access to personal vehicle for business-related purposes.

Skills and Abilities

LEADS Capabilities

Leads Self
Self Awareness: Is aware of own assumptions, values, principles, strengths and limitations.
Manages Self: Takes responsibility for own performance and health.
Develops Self: Actively seeks opportunities and challenges for personal learning, character building and growth.
Demonstrates Character: Models qualities such as honesty, integrity, resilience and confidence.

Engages Others
Fosters the Development of Others: Supports and challenges others to achieve professional and personal goals.
Contributes to the Creation of a Healthy Organization: Creates an engaging environment where others have meaningful opportunities and the resources to fulfill their expected responsibilities.
Communicates Effectively: Listens well. Encourages open exchange of information and ideas using appropriate communication media.
Builds Effective Teams: Facilitates an environment of collaboration and cooperation to achieve results.

Achieves Results
Sets Direction: Inspires vision. Identifies, establishes and communicates clear and meaningful expectations and outcomes.
Strategically Aligns Decisions with Vision, Values and Evidence: Integrates organizational mission, values and reliable, valid evidence to make decisions.
Takes Action to Implement Decisions: Acts in a manner consistent with the organizational values to yield effective, efficient public-centered service. Demonstrates business acumen by efficiently and effectively identifying and managing human, capital, financial and information resources.
Assesses and Evaluates Results: Measures and evaluates outcomes. Holds self and others accountable for results achieved against benchmarks. Corrects course as appropriate.

Develops Coalitions
Builds Partnerships and Networks to Create Results: Creates connections, trust and shared meaning with individuals and groups.
Demonstrates a Commitment to Customers and Service: Facilitates collaboration, cooperation and coalitions among diverse groups and perspectives to improve service.
Mobilizes Knowledge: Employs methods to gather intelligence. Encourages open exchange of information. Uses quality evidence to influence action across the system.
Navigates Socio-Political Environment: Is politically astute. Negotiates through conflict. Mobilizes support.

Systems Transformation
Demonstrates Systems/Critical Thinking: Thinks analytically and conceptually; questions and challenges the status quo to identify issues, solve problems and design and implement effective processes across systems and stakeholders.
Encourages and Supports Innovation: Creates a climate of continuous improvement and creativity aimed at systematic change.
Strategically Oriented to the Future: Scans the environment for ideas, best practices and emerging trends that will shape the system.
Champions and Orchestrates Change: Actively contributes to change processes that improve health service delivery.

Professional/Technical Capabilities

• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to create and support innovation.
• Demonstrated communication skills - written, oral and public presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective working relationships with members of Senior Executive Team, Board, agenices and professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve.
• demonstrated ability to establish courses of action for self and others that are results oriented.
• Demonstrated commitment to the value of continuous learning.
• Physical ability to perform duties of position.