Medical Health Officer

Job Description

In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, Values, and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health) patient and staff safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position, including cultural safety and humility. Island Health and its employees are committed to culturally safe health and care, respecting Indigenous health and wellness beliefs, practices, customs and ceremonies, unique to Vancouver Island First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples.

The Medical Health Officer role offers an opportunity to practice public health and provide expert public health leadership for policies, programs and services that improve health and reduce health inequities in a diverse population. Your public health practice at Island Health can focus on urban or rural and remote population health issues, as well as region wide leadership in health assessment, communicable disease control, environmental health, public health policy, mental health promotion, substance use, Indigenous health, injury prevention or other public health issues of interest. Joining our team provides the chance build or continue your career, mentor residents and participate in research.

Working within a Regional Health Authority, serving a population of 916 000, and reporting to the Chief Medical Health Officer, the Medical Health Officer (MHO) is part of a team that aims to continually improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Vancouver Island and associated Islands The MHO fulfils this role in accordance with the Vision, Purpose, Values and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health), the Ministry of Health's Guiding Framework for Public Health, the Public Health Act, and other relevant provincial, federal and local legislation.

The MHO recognizes the inherent rights and title of Indigenous Peoples to govern themselves and act as decision makers. Advancing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action with Indigenous communities is a key priority.

The Medical Health Officer provides medical leadership for the provision of public health services and programs, population health assessment, and community engagement within assigned geographic areas. The MHO is responsible for enforcing all public health legislation in assigned geographic areas, and, from time to time, other geographies in Island Health.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training And Experience

Medical Doctor and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Medical License from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.

Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership ability, highly developed interpersonal and communication skills and strategic thinking.
• Demonstrated commitment to client focused services and teamwork.
• Established record of evidence-informed practice.
• Ability to integrate administrative, professional and operational aspects of public health programs throughout the Island Health in an effective and efficient manner.
• Ability to develop and nurture an environment where quality improvement principles are embraced and used on a continuous basis.

Remuneration for this position is determined by the provincial Physician Master Agreement as Community Medicine/Public Health Area C found at Negotiated Agreements with the Doctors of BC - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) with terms and conditions as an Island Health Non-Contract Employee found at https://www.islandhealth.ca/careers/why-work-here/collective-agreements-benefits

Link to Full Job Description

https://jd.viha.ca/JD5630.pdf