Department Chair, Emergency Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta (UofA) invites applications for Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. This is an opportunity to lead a large, diverse academic department and shape the future of emergency medicine in Alberta and beyond across education, research, innovation and academic clinical care.

Within the College of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is one of Canada’s leading academic health sciences faculties, with the University of Alberta ranked fifth in Canada and among the top 100 globally for Medical and Health in the 2026 Times Higher Education rankings. The Department of Emergency Medicine is a leading clinical and academic centre dedicated to excellence in education and research. It provides Royal College-accredited residency training, undergraduate core rotations and electives, and partners with the Faculty’s CFPC Emergency Medicine residency program. More than 200 academic and clinical faculty members, including some supported by alternative funding mechanisms, work across hospitals in Edmonton, Red Deer and Grande Prairie.

Department researchers work closely with research institutes and collaborators across the University. These collaborations are supported by distinctive strengths in AI and health data, including the University’s ranking of second in Canada and eighth worldwide for artificial intelligence in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects and the new Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Institute. Together, these assets create significant opportunities for interdisciplinary research and innovation in emergency medicine.

The next Chair will have the opportunity to shape the Department’s next phase of growth at a time of significant change in health-system delivery, academic medicine and technology. The role offers substantial scope to strengthen connections across the Department and deepen collaborations across the University and Alberta’s health system.

LEADERSHIP MANDATE

The Chair is the academic and administrative leader of the Department and will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, learners, Faculty and University leadership, Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health, research institutes and external partners. The Chair will:

• Provide a clear, compelling vision for the Department and translate strategic priorities into action and measurable progress;
• Advance excellence and innovation in education, research and clinical programs, while identifying opportunities for academic and programmatic growth;
• Recruit, develop and support faculty, staff and learners, foster emerging leaders, and create conditions in which individuals and teams can succeed;
• Build strong, productive relationships across the Department’s sites and programs and with the Faculty, University, health system and external community, while promoting interdisciplinary collaboration;
• Foster a respectful, inclusive and supportive culture grounded in professionalism, fairness, accountability and belonging;
• Steward financial, space, infrastructure and human resources responsibly and transparently, aligned with Department, Faculty and University priorities; and
• Communicate clearly, listen to diverse perspectives, address difficult issues constructively, and make fair, timely and well-informed decisions.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strategic leadership: the ability to articulate a compelling vision, translate strategy into action and lead effectively through change;
• Academic leadership: a strong record of academic accomplishment and commitment to excellence and innovation in education, research and/or clinical care; 
• People leadership: an ability to recruit, develop, support and bring out the best in faculty, staff and learners; 
• Collaboration: the ability to build trusted, productive relationships across disciplines, sites, institutions and health-system partners;
• Stewardship and judgment: sound decision-making and responsible, transparent management of people and resources; and
• Culture and communication: a commitment to professionalism, fairness, inclusion and belonging, together with excellent listening, communication and conflict-resolution skills.

Candidates must hold an MD or equivalent degree and either Royal College certification in Emergency Medicine and/or Pediatric Emergency Medicine, a CFPC Certificate of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine [CCFP(EM)], or equivalent qualifications from another recognized certifying body.

Interested candidates should submit the following in one file:

• a cover letter describing your relevant leadership and academic experience and your vision for the Department (maximum 3 pages); 
• a statement describing your leadership approach, including how you foster inclusive, respectful and high-performing environments (maximum 1 page);
• a statement describing your approach to building effective internal and external partnerships (maximum 1 page); and 
• your curriculum vitae.

To support masked review, please do not include your name or other directly identifying information in the leadership and partnership statements. Candidates are encouraged to describe relevant experiences and examples without identifying specific institutions or individuals where possible. Identifying information can be included in the cover letter and curriculum vitae. Candidates requiring a clinical appointment with Alberta Health Services or Covenant Health will need to submit a second application through DoctorJobsAB.

Confidential inquiries are welcome at [email protected].

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry has adopted the Okanagan Charter and is committed to health promoting learning and working environments supporting safety and wellbeing. 

The successful candidate will be offered a tenured or tenure-track appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, including a comprehensive benefits package.

The academic appointment is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).