Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health

ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES

Within Canada, Alberta has always been a leader in health care. Recognizing the growing needs of Albertans, the health care system is currently undergoing a transformation to be able to provide a health system that works for Albertans and prioritizes their needs. The system is being unified into four dedicated provincial health agencies that oversee primary care, acute care, assisted living, and mental health and addictions. Public health is critically important to the overall health care system. Refocusing the health system provides a unique opportunity to amplify the importance of public health in communities across Alberta. The Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services (formerly Alberta Health) sets the policies, standards, and oversights, while Primary Care Alberta, one of the new provincial agencies, will be responsible for delivering core public health services at the community level. Central to this work is the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH) within the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services. The OCMOH provides strategic leadership, guidance, and expertise in the field of public health, and will work with the province's medical officers of health to oversee governance and accountability for public health, ensure better integration of upstream, preventative health services, and reduce the strain on the overall health care system.

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

Given its authority and responsibility under the Public Health Act, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH) monitors and reports on the health of Albertans, provides public health guidance and expertise to champion the conditions necessary for Albertans to lead healthy lives. It ensures Albertans benefit from strong and evidence-based public health programs and services.

ABOUT THE DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH POSITION

This posting is intended to fill four strategic leadership positions within the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, each with a distinct area of focus aligned to the division’s public health priorities. Reporting directly to the Chief Medical Officer of Health and as a member of the OCMOH’s leadership team, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health (DCMOH) provides support to the Chief Medical Officer of Health in exercise of their legislative responsibilities. In addition to having a Community Medicine or Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialization, each DCMOH role will provide strategic leadership and expertise within one of the four planned public health portfolios: Communicable Disease Control, Health Promotion, Health Protection, and Regional Zone/Corridor Support. Each portfolio may include specific files such as the following, depending on relevance and alignment with the portfolio’s scope:

• Public health surveillance
• Environmental health
• Emergency and disaster management
• Health promotion
• Screening programs
• Population health assessment
• Immunization
• Infection prevention and control
• Addictions and mental health
• Disease and injury prevention
• Communicable disease control

The DCMOH, works with the CMOH, in providing advice and guidance related to the need for legislation, policies, standards and practices affecting the health of the population and in specific portfolios. The DCMOH, an expert in the field of public health, collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to develop public health-related policy and in promoting health public policy in general. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health may be required to act on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer from time to time.

The DCMOH provides strategic leadership and supports the development and maintenance of a high-performance culture aligned with the values of the Government of Alberta.

If you are invigorated by complex challenges, have a passion for public health and would like to apply creative and innovative thinking to public health services and their delivery, this is the position for you.

KEY LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES

Accountability 1: Planning Strategically

• Contribute to building and advancing a public health research agenda for the province.
• In collaboration with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health team, develop practical strategies and action plans clearly defining and describing the vision and mandate for public health, strategic directions, and priorities in Alberta.
• Provide advice and guidance to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Deputy Minister and Minister of Health as required.
• Establish and maintain systems and processes to detect emerging health issues and assist in coordinating action, in collaboration with Primary Care Alberta and other stakeholders, in times of existing or anticipated health threats.
• Assist in coordinating surveillance, population health assessments and public health related reports.
• Participate in the Health Care System Refocus initiative to ensure public health planning and delivery is effectively integrated and aligned.
• Working closely with executives, develop and approve organization-wide policies and procedures and ensure integration with standards of best practice.
• Participate in and provide leadership for the establishment of key performance indicators in portfolios of responsibility to continually evaluate the quality and effectiveness of these programs.
• Provide medical expertise, direction and advice on public health areas or approaches.

Accountability 2: Financial, Human Resource and Leadership

• Supervise and support Medical Officers of Health (MOHs), providing mentorship, guidance, and performance management aligned with legislative and professional standards.
• Oversee public health service delivery across geographic areas or sectors, ensuring consistent, high-quality practice and accountability.
• Lead the implementation of public health policies, protocols, and quality improvement initiatives at the operational level.
• Coordinate with system leaders to optimize service delivery, promote collaboration, and address cross-sectoral public health needs.
• Provide senior-level public health expertise and operational advice to inform system planning, policy development, and response strategies.
• Implement effective and efficient financial management practices that ensure an accurate, current understanding of drivers of expense, budgets, and expenditures and focus on long-term financial sustainability, based on strong forecasting practices.
• Promote health equity by supporting inclusive, culturally appropriate public health programs that address the needs of under served populations.
• Act as a spokesperson or advisor on complex public health issues, engaging with stakeholders, partners, and the public as needed.
• Prepare briefings, presentations, and reports to inform executive decision-making and ensure transparency in public health performance.
• Supervise and contribute to the training of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residents and other learners.
• Recommend and oversee the deployment of financial and human resources to ensure effective, efficient, and sustainable public health operations.
• Share on-call duties with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Deputy Medical Officers of Health.

Accountability 3: Stakeholder, Partner and Public Relations.

• Establish and maintain collaborative, ongoing relationships with executives and senior leaders/partners internal and external to the CMOH.
• Strengthen CMOH’s relationships with stakeholders.
• Work closely with technical experts and various levels of leadership including departmental and other government partners, clinical experts and front-line public health.
• Build linkages between educational institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen public health human resources and capacity within Alberta.
• Serve on federal/provincial/ territorial committees when necessary.
• Establish successful partnerships with educational and research partners, integrating research into strategic directions for the organization and respective portfolio areas and ensuring educational and research goals are met.
• Represent OCMOH in the community.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health requires strong leadership skills and the ability to develop and maintain a high-performance environment in their portfolios of responsibility. Alberta Primary and Preventative Health Services relies on their knowledge, experience and competencies to lead in a multidisciplinary, dynamic environment with multiple and often conflicting demands.

The successful candidate will bring a medical degree and certification in Community Medicine or Public Health and Preventive Medicine with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or equivalent training in public health, a license to practice (or eligibility for a license to practice) as a specialist in Community Medicine/Public Health and Preventative Medicine complemented by a minimum of five (5) years leadership experience related to public health.

The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive knowledge of the broad principles and practices of public health, including a deep understanding of general population health integration strategies, disease prevention and communicable disease control, healthy public policy and health impact assessment. Experience in government and knowledge of the Alberta health system are highly desirable. Knowledge of epidemiology and the ability to provide advice on health information, population health assessments and appropriate reporting methodology is considered a definite asset.

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