Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer

Term

5 years
, with the possibility of one five-year renewal

0.8 FTE (minimum 4 days/week), with flexibility to consider 1.0 FTE or a 0.8 FTE model combined with 0.2 FTE clinical or academic work

CHEO main campus (401 Smyth Rd.), with hybrid work opportunities

At CHEO, we believe every child and youth deserves the best life possible. More than 6,000 staff, physicians, learners, researchers and volunteers deliver care and support for children, youth and families across Ottawa, Eastern and Northern Ontario, Western Quebec and Nunavut. CHEO is an academic pediatric health institution affiliated with the University of Ottawa, with research and discovery advanced through the CHEO Research Institute.

CHEO is building the pediatrics system kids need now and for generations to come, connecting care within and beyond our walls so families experience timely, seamless journeys, as close to home as possible. Equity, cultural safety and sustainability guide our work, and our culture of dyad leadership supports collaborative decision-making across executive and clinical teams.

Dr. Lindy Samson will complete her ten-year term as Chief of Staff/Chief Medical Officer at the end of August 2026. CHEO is undertaking a comprehensive internal and external search for the next Chief of Staff/Chief Medical Officer.

This is a senior physician executive role with a strong focus on clinical quality and safety, medical staff leadership, and system partnership. The successful candidate will help CHEO strengthen how quality and performance are led, measured, and improved, while supporting medical staff wellbeing and sustaining a fair, learning-oriented culture. A central priority is advancing equity, inclusion and cultural safety, including improving Indigenous patient experience.

The Chief of Staff/Chief Medical Officer is appointed by and accountable to the CHEO Board of Directors. CHEO’s dyad leadership model is a cornerstone of how we lead, with the Chief of Staff/Chief Medical Officer working in dyad partnership with the President and CEO and, as Chief Medical Officer, with the Chief Nursing Executive to lead clinical operations.

Clinical quality, safety and standards

Lead oversight of clinical standards, evidence-based practice, peer review and quality improvement.

Strengthen performance measurement and use of data to reduce unwarranted variation and improve outcomes.

Ensure regulatory and compliance leadership across clinical areas, including PHIPA, medical staff by-laws and standards of care.

Strategic clinical and system leadership

Advance CHEO’s system-wide vision for connected care across Eastern and Northern Ontario, Western Quebec and Nunavut.

Support models of care that help children receive the right care in the right setting, closer to home where appropriate.

Help embed a learning health system, linking operations, research, education and improvement.

Medical staff leadership and workforce oversight

Lead the medical workforce: recruitment, engagement, development, accountability and professionalism.

Oversee credentialing, privileging, reappointment and medical staff HR matters with fairness, clarity and consistency.

Support a healthy culture, including addressing conflict and behaviours that impact teams and patient care.

Academic mission, teaching and learning

Support a positive, safe and effective learning environment for medical learners.

Strengthen relationships with academic partners, including the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and the CHEO Research Institute.

Partnerships and external relations

Build trusted relationships with families, community pediatricians, primary care leaders, regional partners and system leaders.

In collaboration with the CEO, support government relationships connected to clinical and system priorities.

Governance and Board relationships

Serve as Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee and related committees, and as a non-voting member of the Board.

Advise on medical staff appointments, privileges, quality and clinical risk.

Ensure compliance with the Public Hospitals Act, the medical staff by-laws and governance…