Come work as an Academic Asthma/Airways Respirologist with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

The Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)/Vancouver Acute (VA) Division of Respirology is seeking an engaged and dynamic academic asthma specialist to join our diverse and collegial team.

This is primarily an academic position with the University of British Columbia (UBC), with an 80:20 research: clinical split. The details of the academic component are outlined in the UBC posting (attached). The clinical component will include participation in and shared leadership of a multidisciplinary complex asthma clinic at the Centre for Lung Health, providing consultative services and management of asthma/airways disease in partnership with a collaborative group of respirologists, an airways educator and research assistants. The clinic actively participates in clinical trials in asthma, with a goal to build a national/international research footprint. The successful candidate will also participate in the General Respirology ward and consult service, with a time commitment estimated to be 4-6 weeks per year.

In addition to a current research portfolio with international impact, the candidate will have current experience in acute care general respirology, including bronchoscopy, chest ultrasound and chest tube insertion. They will also have formal postgraduate training in complex asthma. Additional experience in developing a complex asthma tertiary referral centre will be of value.  Skill, experience and recognition teaching medical students, residents and fellows is required.

The largest academic tertiary care hospital in BC, VGH is a teaching hospital affiliated with UBC and is the provincial referral site for Pulmonary Hypertension, Lung Transplantation and Tuberculosis and has strong regional programs in lung cancer, ILD, Sleep, Neuromuscular Disease, TB and non-tuberculous mycobacteria.  

Academic Position with the University of British Columbia (UBC)

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for  a full-time academic position at the rank of an Assistant Professor (grant tenure-track).

The UBC Department of Medicine (DOM) provides excellence in research, teaching and clinical services related to the nature, cause and prevention of adult diseases. We are the largest Department in the Faculty of Medicine with over 1,200 faculty and staff. The Department is comprised of 18 divisions with faculty located throughout the Province of British Columbia. The UBC DOM is committed to ensuring the success of our learners and faculty, and to contributing to the health of the Province of British Columbia.

The Division of Respiratory Medicine is an esteemed and highly-awarded group of faculty, primarily located at the major teaching hospitals affiliated with the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Recognition of our prominence and success is furthered with ongoing recognition of lung and heart as an area of research strength and focus within the Faculty of Medicine. The UBC Respiratory Division has an international reputation for excellence in research, which spans the four (4) Canadian Institutes of Health Research Pillars, from state-of-the-art basic research through to population health.

The incumbent scientist will be based at the Centre for Lung Health (https://centreforlunghealth.ca/). Additional support and common goals will be found through the following at UBC: the Data Sciences and Health Research Cluster, the Data Science Institute, the Academy of Translational Medicine, and the Precision Health Initiative. Our established connections with the BC Centre for Disease Control, the BC Ministry of Health, and others will lend additional strength.

Reporting to the Head, UBC Department of Medicine through the Head, Division of Respiratory Medicine, the incumbent will be a respirologist that leads unique and groundbreaking research program that target gaps in airways disease prevention and/or treatment through novel clinical trials that span a range of interventions, including those behavioural, technological, programmatic, and pharmacologic. The incumbent will be visionary and broad-thinking in study design and evaluation, focusing on testing creative innovations that are developed primarily by the incumbent (rather than those initiated elsewhere by other investigators). The incumbent will push the boundaries of methodology, finding new applications of existing techniques and developing first-of-a-kind trial methodology to address gaps in current trial modes. The incumbent will collaborate with patients and community groups, as well as other interested parties and colleagues within and outside the Centre for Lung Health, in order to advance and elevate the strength of clinical trials relevant to airways disease and also consider linkage to other lung conditions.

The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the teaching activities of the Department, as well as provide mentorship and training to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners. The incumbent will also be expected to provide service to the University and the broader academic and professional community. They will work collaboratively in diverse groups to bring forward strategic initiatives for the Department and the Faculty. The successful candidate will contribute to fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity and embodies values of respect, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equity. Equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice are essential to academic excellence, as well as to fostering an inclusive community for voices that have been historically underrepresented or discouraged.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD and/or MD with subspecialty training in Respiratory Medicine with eligibility for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. The successful candidate will have demonstrated evidence of ability in teaching and scholarly activity. The successful candidate should have a demonstrated track record of success in an academic setting appropriate for the rank of appointment. Demonstrated record of novel and innovative scientific research and productivity is expected. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate a willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own, and a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The expected salary for this position is 135,000-145,000 per annum, excluding independent clinical income. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate. At UBC, in addition to a generous benefit package and highly valued pension plan, faculty members also have access to a comprehensive range of leaves, services, resources, and career development opportunities. For more information, please visit: https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc.

Candidates who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences are encouraged to apply as we strive to enhance diversity, inclusiveness, socio-cultural representation, and perspective of the Department.  An application package should include:

• a letter of application with a detailed curriculum vitae that addresses (i) scholarly, professional and creative work, (ii) teaching (including summary of academic and/ or clinical teaching), (iii) administrative service and experience fostering collaboration across partners, and (iv) a brief statement of your current or previous contributions to advancing anti-racism, equity, diversity, decolonization, Indigenization and inclusion in an academic, professional, or community context;
• publications record;
• and names of three referees

Applications should be submitted to:

Dr. Chris Carlsten

Head, UBC Division of Respiratory Medicine

Email: carlsten@mail.ubc.ca

C/o: Gagan Basi    gagan.basi@vch.ca

Subject Line: Legacy Professorship in Innovative Clinical Trials for Airways Disease Management and Prevention at UBC.

Should you have any queries around this position, please contact Parvin Bolourani, Faculty HR Manager at parvin@mail.ubc.ca.

Review of applications will begin on July 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date for this position is January 1, 2026, or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

Education, Licensing, & Experience:

• Current College of Physicians of BC (CPSBC) - Provisional
• Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) - Mandatory
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) - Desired

Interested in applying? Feel free to reach out to Khuushali Raja, Executive and Medical Staff Talent Acquisition Advisor for more information: medstaffcareers@vch.ca or click “Apply Now.”

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required to apply for this position.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

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.