Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer ​/ Chef du personnel médical et médecin chef

Compensation Pay Range

Job Description:

Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer:
Recruiting Letter

Dear Candidate,
Welcome to the vibrant world of CHEO, the heart of pediatric health in Canada’s capital. I am delighted you are considering the role of Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer.
CHEO is at a historic turning point, and we are looking for a clinical leader to help shape our next chapter. We serve one of the largest territories in Canada, reaching a population of over three million. Every day, our dedicated workforce of 6,000+ professionals work alongside families to provide world-class care, ground-breaking research, and elite clinical training.
Our focus is clear: to build a seamless, connected pediatric health system that brings specialized care closer to home.
Why now? The health care needs for children and families continue to grow in volume and complexity. We have just embarked on the most significant redevelopment in our history. This isn t just about modernizing our campus; it’s about fundamentally reimagining how we deliver care. We are strengthening how we lead and measure quality and safety across the organization, and how we partner with community pediatricians, primary care and regional hospitals to reduce unnecessary waits and keep CHEO focused on tertiary and qua ternary care.

We are collaborating with partners to ensure no child or youth is left behind.
CHEO’s dyad leadership model is vital. The Chief of Staff/ Chief Medical Officer is appointed by and accountable to the Board, and works in close partnership with me, and with our Chief Nursing Executive to lead clinical operations. You will also work closely with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and the CHEO Research Institute to strengthen a learning health system and a strong teaching environment.
I am looking for a partner in this journey, someone who is passionate about supporting our workforce as they help children and youth live their best lives. And, of course, you’ll be doing this in Ottawa, one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world.
If this vision aligns with your values and your experience, I would love to hear from you.

Next Steps
Alumni Global is supporting CHEO in this executive search. To express your interest, please send a letter of intent and your curriculum vitae, in confidence, to Thomas Patterson at
thom
.
With gratitude,
Dr. Vera Etches
President and CEO, CHEO
Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer:
Posting
CHEO | Ottawa, Ontario
Term
: 5 years, with the possibility of one five-year renewal
Time commitment
: 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
Primary location
: CHEO main campus (401 Smyth Rd.), with hybrid work opportunities
The organization
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 pediatric 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.
Ottawa is located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. CHEO acknowledges the enduring presence of Indigenous Peoples on this land and the truths of historical harms and the ongoing impacts of colonization. We are committed to advancing reconciliation through respectful relationships, culturally safe care, and an inclusive workplace culture.

The opportunity
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…