Come work as a Regional Department Head, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is seeking an engaging and collaborative physician leader to join our team as the Regional Department Head (RDH), Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Reporting to the Vice President of Medicine, the RDH provides senior medical level leadership for the delivery of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services within VCH, with direct oversight of all medical staff in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine throughout VCH within the department.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing a regional department and division structure and governance, cultivating a culture of teamwork that is focused on delivering exceptional quality service across multiple sites. The successful candidate will combine clinical expertise, leadership acumen, and a commitment to quality improvement to drive the department's success, optimizing staff, spaces, and equipment to allow the entire department to provide timely access to quality laboratory results to ordering physicians and our patients. The RDH will ensure that the quality of Pathology and Laboratory Medical care services provided to patients is in accordance with policies established by the Board of Directors and external accreditation bodies.

Reporting to the VP Medicine with standing reports on quality, health human resource planning (and other topics as required) to the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC), the RDH is accountable for the following:

• Leadership and Vision: Provide strategic leadership for the Regional Pathology and Laboratory Department, setting a clear vision and direction for the regional structure. Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation in pathology services. Provide leadership to designated staff through coaching, guiding, modeling professional behaviours and encouraging dialogue to create a respectful and motivating environment that encourages achievement of personal goals and performance targets.
• Strategic and Operational Planning: Co-develop a strategic plan and the associated annual service delivery/volume plan, which considers service, quality and efficiency objectives, in collaboration with the Regional Senior Director of Laboratory Operations co-lead the development of the annual program financial and activity budget and monitor and modify as necessary. Set cost, service volume, and funding at each CoC, consistent with the program standards and budgets.
• Organizational Redesign: Implement a comprehensive Regional Department and Division structure, including the establishment of specialized divisions within the entire department (including Anatomic Pathology, Hematopathology/Transfusion Medicine, Medical Microbiology/Infection Control, Medical Biochemistry, Immunopathology, Pre- and Post- Analysis, Point of Care Testing, Cytogenomics/Molecular Pathology).
• Quality and Service Delivery: Ensure the highest standards of quality in pathology services by implementing robust quality assurance programs, monitoring performance metrics, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Establish and implement short and long-term service delivery and program goals as well as policies, procedures, and standards to operationalize the strategic plans. Develop and execute system-level change with a focus on improving outcomes at reduced cost, with a "people first" lens. Collaborate with clinical teams and the VP Quality portfolio to integrate pathology and laboratory services seamlessly into whole health system patient care quality improvement activity including Choosing Wisely, Access & Flow, CST clinical decision support optimization and other relevant opportunities.
• Operational Oversight: Oversee daily medical operations across all regional sites, ensuring efficient workflow, adherence to protocols, and optimal resource utilization. Implement best practices to streamline processes and enhance service delivery. Along with the Laboratory Operations Director, identify, prioritize, and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, coordination, and integration of services along the continuum of services across the region. Coordinate and chair the Regional Laboratory Quality Council meetings to discuss relevant regional issues and ensure communication amongst the parties participating in the delivery of services within the Department.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure development of quality assurance programs by planning adequate resources and capital support, identifying quality assurance indicators in consultation with the Operations Director, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Ensure systems, monitoring and follow up support is in place in response to priority issues. Coordinate negotiations and communications regarding quality assurance initiatives and ensure standards meet and exceed provincial and Ministry of Health guidelines . Maintain accurate information on best practices and benchmarking within industry, regional and national organizations to support organizational decision-making.
• Human Resource Management: Determine and plan medical workforce structures within VCH consistent with strategic planning, goals and objectives. Manage and provide support for a physically and psychologically safe and healthy workplace for patients/clients and all laboratory staff, and ensure that health and safety requirements for the operational area are met.
• Financial Management: Create an effective financial plan for the designated portfolio area, determine priorities, allocate funding, and approve variances within the context of operational demands and environmental and resource constraints that support the accomplishment of goals and objectives provided in the strategic plan.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Develop effective and efficient communication mechanisms through continual liaison and negotiation with all stakeholders to ensure ongoing integration of shared services, address issues and identify improvements to maximize efficiencies. Collaborate with other department heads, Community of Care leaders, and external stakeholders to align departmental goals with organizational objectives by regular formal meetings (including community site medical directors/department heads). Engage with community partners and industry experts to enhance the department's reputation and impact.
• Research and Innovation: Promote and support research activities within the department. Foster innovation in pathology practices and technologies to advance diagnostic capabilities and patient outcomes.
• Education and Training: Develop and implement educational programs for clinical pathology medical staff, residents, and fellows. Provide mentorship and support to faculty and trainees, fostering professional development and academic excellence.
• Representation: Represent VCH interests to inter-regional, provincial, and national interest groups. Act as a spokesperson for VCH as required and participating on relevant committees and boards. Working with the VP Medicine, responds to requests from the Ministry of Health.
• Accountability: Have annual performance feedback from various VCH laboratory leaders within each site (including community sites) and sub-specialty area, with this feedback reviewed by senior VCH leadership team.
• Conflicts of interest:
  • Must disclose potential conflicts of interest, including (but not limited to): private sector biotechnology enterprises/laboratories, research affiliations, etc.
  • Cannot have affiliations with any private sector biotechnology enterprises/laboratories that VCH laboratory currently is in collaboration with.
  • Must be a VCH Clinical Laboratory medical staff member in good standing.

Education, Licensing, & Experience:

• A Medical Degree and certification or licensure with the appropriate regulatory colleges as required for medical staff appointment, with recognized clinical expertise in the field of clinical pathology/laboratory medicine.
• A minimum of 5 years recent medical leadership experience in leadership roles in a health authority or comparable setting, preferably in an academic health science center.
• Advanced degree in medical education, healthcare administration or a related field is favoured.
• A track record of leading development of multi-stakeholder, system level projects and initiatives highly desirable.
• A track record of leading a translational research portfolio with proven success nationally or internationally.
• Eligibility for a faculty appointment with the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, is desirable.

Role Specific Expertise:

• Demonstrates a deep commitment to advancing patient safety and quality across the health authority.
• Effectively leads change with vision and integrity, and a commitment to engaging others across all levels of the organizations, being courageous and promoting innovation.
• Strong leadership and management skills and demonstrated experience in consultation, fostering collaboration and teamwork in a multistakeholder environment.
• Strong business acumen with a demonstrated skill in utilizing data to inform and drive deliberation and decision making, to tell a story, and make cases for change and continuous improvement of service delivery standards and practices across the region.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and commitment to health system safety, quality, risk management, improvement systems, research and professional development.
• Able to navigate inherent and emergent complexities and tensions with interpersonal intelligence, and through insightful, and politically savvy interactions and engagements.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the creation of a regional program vision and co-leading programs and teams both operationally and strategically.
• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to promote and enhance services provided with sensitivity to diversity and Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Creates environments, processes, partnerships, and relationships that invite and demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, collegiality, and respect.
• Demonstrated excellent communication and engagement skills, with the ability to influence and inspire diverse medical and operations leaders, medical staff, trainees, and others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Shared Values:

You care for everyone:

• You’re compassionate, empathetic, and sensitive to the needs of others.
• You are respectful, treating people as equals, and valuing others’ perspectives and differences.
• You are appreciative of others’ efforts and give them praise when it’s due.

You are always learning:

• You are open minded, always receptive to different perspectives and ways of doing things.
• You are curious and ask questions to find a deeper understanding.
• You share your expertise and mentor others by sharing your knowledge and experience.

You strive for better results:

• You are accountable, and take responsibility for what you say, what you do, and who you engage in achieving better results.
• You’re a solution finder, empowered to solve the challenges we face in healthcare.
• You take ownership for growth and development and personal development, always seek feedback and opportunities to improve how we do things.

Interested applicants please submit a resume and covering letter by January 7, 2025 to Olivia Todd, Manager, Talent Acquisition, Executive & Medical Staff: olivia.todd@vch.ca

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.