Physician, Department of Psychiatry – BC Children’s Hospital and University of British Columbia

Physician with Background in Substance Use Treatment

Department of Psychiatry

BC Children’s Hospital

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, BC Canada

The Department of Psychiatry is seeking a physician experienced in working with youth and families struggling with risky substance use to join our expanding substance use service at British Columbia Children’s Hospital (BCCH). The Substance Use Response and Facilitation (SURF) Team works across the BCCH site to provide sub-specialty care to children and youth who use drugs and alcohol.

As a consulting physician, you will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. Clinical work will include the assessment and treatment of substance use disorders, with or without mental health disorders. Treatment includes management of intoxication and withdrawal. Care is provided to patients in the Emergency Department, during inpatient hospitalization, and in our ambulatory services. Providing support to the medical, emergency, ambulatory and community teams will also be an important priority. Within the SURF team, physicians contribute to the provision of evidence-based care in a trauma-informed approach to reduce the risk of patient-initiated discharges. In future, physicians will also participate in care for patients referred to the outpatient SURF clinic currently being developed as part of our SURF program expansion. Indirect patient care through telephone or virtual support of professional caregivers in community will be provided through the BCCH Compass Program. All direct and indirect care is provided in-person, via virtual modalities, or a combination of both. This physician role is primarily clinical and remunerated by a service contract with flexibility in hours. Previous experience in the assessment, treatment and family support for children and youth experiencing substance use issues is essential. Experience with OAT prescribing is desirable. The BCCH Department of Psychiatry is an active teaching program and supervision of medical students, pediatric and psychiatry residents and fellows, and adolescent medicine fellows is expected.

As the successful candidate for this position, you will have a demonstrated commitment to clinical and academic excellence. You will have passed or be eligible for membership with Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the Canadian College of Family Physicians (CCFP) and the College of Physician and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC). You will have a demonstrated ability to work successfully in a multidisciplinary team environment, provide patient and family centered care, and demonstrate a trauma informed approach in your clinical work and professional relationships. Superior communication skills and experience working with substance using youth is essential.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested individuals should submit their most current CV; covering letter and the names, academic rank and contact information of 4 referees to:

Roberto Britto Sassi, MD PhD FRCPC
Psychiatrist in Chief, BC Children’s Hospital / BC Women’s Hospital

BCCH Pediatric Mental Health Chair
Head, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UBC
UBC Associate Professor (Partner Track)

Email: roberto.sassi@cw.bc.ca

About Provincial Health Services Authority

BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) cares for the province’s most acutely ill and injured children and young people and provides developmental and rehabilitation services throughout BC. BCCH also operates a wide number of specialized health programs, is a leading acute care teaching facility, and conducts research to advance health and care through the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and in partnership with the University of British Columbia.

BCCH is a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), which plans, manages, and evaluates selected specialty and province-wide health care services across BC. PHSA embodies values that reflect a commitment to excellence. These include:

Patients first • Best value • Results matter • Excellence through knowledge • Open to possibilities.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is Canada’s third largest university and consistently ranks among the 40 best universities in the world. Primarily situated in Vancouver, UBC is a research-intensive university and has an economic impact of $4 billion to the provincial economy.

UBC and BCCH hire on the basis of merit and are committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome applications from members of visible minority groups, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments’ unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey-one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate.