Provincial Medical Director, Pain & Symptom Management/Palliative Care - BC Cancer - Provincial

Provincial Medical Director, Pain & Symptom Management / Palliative Care

BC Cancer

Regular, Part Time FTE)

Provincial, BC

Reporting to the provincial Program Medical Director for Supportive Care, the provincial Medical Director for Pain & Symptom Management / Palliative Care (PSMPC) is responsible for providing direction and vision for the clinical, educational, and research activities of the multidisciplinary PSMPC teams at BC Cancer centres.

The Medical Director will be supported by FTE (2 days per week) of protected non-clinical time for leadership activities.

The role involves close collaboration with the Program Medical Director for Supportive Care and other physician and non-physician leaders including leaders within Provincial Programs, Professional Practice, Nursing and Allied Health Research, Operations, and Indigenous Health.

Clinical leadership will include :

• Staying up-to-date with developments in the field
• Developing and updating guidelines, policies, and protocols, and leading quality improvement initiatives
• Maintaining a human resource plan informed by national and international standards and advising the Program Medical Director for Supportive Care as well as other BC Cancer leaders on the human resource needs of PSMPC
• Working in collaboration with regional centre Executive Medical Directors on the hiring of new PSMPC medical staff and participating in their orientation and onboarding
• Ensuring professional practice standards of PSMPC medical staff
• Facilitating growth in health equity and cultural competency within the PSMPC team
• Proactive management of patient safety and patient experience, and participation in response to patient safety events
• Providing expert support to other PSMPC team members at BC Cancer centres around the province while also working as a PSMPC physician within the multidisciplinary PSMPC team at a BC Cancer Centre
• Keeping PSMPC team members informed of broader BC Cancer objectives, policies, and activities
• Chairing meetings of PSMPC staff
• Using available data and analytics resources to inform decision making
• Maintaining the call schedule for PSMPC services at BC Cancer Vancouver with delegation to local team members as appropriate
• Representing BC Cancer on committees and in other connections with organizations such as the BC Centre for Palliative Care, the UBC Division of Palliative Care, PHSA and the other Health Authorities, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Pallium, and the Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaboration

Educational leadership will include :

• Leading creation and maintenance of educational opportunities for PSMPC staff and, at times, BC Cancer staff more broadly
• Participating in the creation and maintenance of broader educational activities such as Supportive Care rounds
• Leveraging expertise at BC Cancer to educate and empower community-based clinicians providing pain and symptom management and palliative care to cancer patients in the community through strategies such as virtual education sessions and promotion of Shared Care
• Providing mentorship to team members and facilitating their career growth

Research leadership will include :

• Leading BC Cancer initiated research activities in PSMPC
• Facilitating research opportunities and training for PSMPC team members
• Building research collaborations within BC Cancer and with researchers at other organizations

Successful candidates will have :

• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC
• DRIPA, TRC, etc.).

Applicants from a CCFP background should have the Certificate of Added Competency in Palliative Care (CAC); and applicants with a Royal College background should have Palliative Medicine Subspecialty Accreditation or equivalent training and experience.

As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future.

That’s why we’re focused on your care too offering health, wellness, development programs to support you at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Salaried Physicians enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Salaried Physicians receive annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

What we do

provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia.

BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province.

Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include : Respect people Be compassionate Dare to innovate Cultivate partnerships Serve with purpose.

The BC Cancer ( ) is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer.

BC Cancer provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia in partnership with regional health authorities to deliver a range of cancer services, which include prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care.

It operates six regional cancer centres in Surrey, Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Abbotsford and Prince George, along with two research centres that conduct research into the causes and cures for cancer.

BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) which plans, manages and evaluates specialty and province-wide health care services across BC.

PHSA embodies values that reflect a commitment to excellence. These include : Respect people

• Be compassionate
• Dare to innovate
• Cultivate partnerships
• Serve with purpose.

PHSA and BC Cancer are committed to employment equity and diversity and hires on the basis of merit. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

Citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

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.

For more information on all that the PHSA has to offer, please visit :

For more information about BC Cancer, please visit :

Applications are invited from candidates with outstanding leadership, planning and administration skills to join the team at BC Cancer.

To apply, please send a letter expressing your interest, curriculum vitae to :

Shelley Breen

Advisor, Talent Acquisition

BC Cancer

Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.