Associate Physician, Medical Microbiology, BC Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Laboratory
Associate Physician
BC Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Laboratory
Vancouver, BC
Medical Microbiology is a specialized branch of the practice of laboratory medicine. It is concerned with the screening, diagnosis, monitoring and surveillance of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and other infectious agents, e.g., prions, across the prevention, care and treatment continuum.
Reporting to the BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory (BCCDC PHL) Medical Director, the Associate Physician carries out responsibilities related to the continuous quality improvement of client and population care, infection control, public health outbreak surveillance and response, technological innovation, education, and applied research, in accordance with professional standards, practice guidelines, and the codes of ethics for health care professionals.
The Associate Physician at the BCCDC PHL would gain experience and contribute to disease screening, detection, monitoring, and surveillance across the prevention, care and treatment continuum. In the context of public health surveillance, threat anticipation, detection, and outbreak response are important responsibilities. They will work alongside the medical and clinical microbiologists at the BCCDC, in partnership with medical health officers, environmental health officers and other public health care providers, sharing with them and others, the responsibility for the health of their clients and communities. They also work with laboratory physicians and other health care providers in all health regions including First Nations Health Authority.
Since the BCCDC PHL is a provincial diagnostic and reference laboratory, an Associate Physician at the BCCDC PHL will gain experience interacting with provincial and national stakeholders involved with public health and reference testing.
Specific Accountabilities:
The Associate Physician works closely with clinical colleagues to:
Support the BCCDC PHL's strategic direction in a unified and cohesive manner.
- Provide leadership to the senior technical staff and support technical operations.
- Provide clinical consultation and assistance with planning, review and interpretation of laboratory test results and follow-up investigations, while promoting appropriate stewardship of laboratory services utilization.
- Participate in quality assurance and improvement activities in the laboratory.
- Provide leadership in the writing of related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Evaluate and monitor current laboratory testing patterns to maintain timely and accurate testing capacity.
- Assist in trouble shooting, identify and report any quality concerns.
- Participate in clinical and teaching rounds for undergraduate students, medical residents, technologists, and other professional staff.
- Provide supervision and/or guidance, as appropriate, to junior trainees in the laboratory.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge in relevant field of clinical practice. This includes Continuing Medical Education to be in good standing with your college or professional association.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Degree in Medicine (MD) from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
- Minimum of two (2) years of accredited postgraduate training (preferably with sexual health, STI, or infectious diseases experience), verified by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).
- Successful completion of Part 1 of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) or Steps 1 through 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLEs).
- Prior experience with at least one of laboratory practice (with a focus in medical microbiology), infectious diseases, or infection prevention and control.
- Must meet the CPSBC's English language proficiency requirements.
- Must be eligible for registration with the CPSBC in the Associate Physician class.
- Must also have Canadian Citizenship, be a permanent resident or be legally able to live and work in British Columbia.
Contact
Applications, accompanied by a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae, and the name, title, rank and contact information of four references, should be directed to Health Match BC.
For further questions regarding the application process please direct to:
Heather Finn
Advisor, Talent Acquisition - Clinical Services
Email: physicianrecruitment@phsa.ca
About Provincial Health Services Authority
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is dedicated to preventing and controlling communicable diseases and promoting environmental health for the province of BC.
BCCDC is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
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. Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA and BCCDC are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. 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 Government unanimous passing 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 meaningful and lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as we move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.