Expression of Interest - NSH Cancer Care Program - Medical Co-Lead System Integration, Quality and Patient Safety

Company Description

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing, and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centers, and community-based programs we operate across the province.

Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators, and creative thinkers today.

Job Description

The Provincial Medical Co-Lead System Integration, Quality and Patient Safety is a new position within the Provincial Cancer Care Program (CPP).

The NSH CCP is a population-based cancer control program responsible for the provision, monitoring and evaluation of services which span the continuum from primary prevention, through screening, diagnosis, treatment and care, to survivorship, and to palliative and end-of-life care.  Given the growing burden of cancer on our population, a proactive, coordinated and comprehensive cancer program that addresses the cancer demand but that also aims to reduce the burden of this disease is essential for our future.  The goal is the provision of sustainable, effective and timely cancer control services across the continuum and across all age groups.

Mandate: 

To provide co-leadership for Cancer System Integration, Quality and Patient Safety, and work with the Director Co-Lead to develop and lead quality and system performance initiatives in the CCP.

Responsibilities:

• Advance the framework of cancer system performance for the CCP towards a data-driven decision-making framework to support the renewed 2021 - 2026 Provincial Cancer Control Strategy
• Promote and facilitate the use of cancer information to obtain improved outcomes for cancer morbidity, mortality and other key performance indicators
• Facilitate the development of evidence-informed policies, standards and guidelines through the Cancer Site Teams supported by the Provincial Cancer Care Council and NSH Decision Support and OPOR initiatives
• Support established and advance emerging high-performing tumour site groups to facilitate case conferencing and the establishment of standards and guidelines to develop evidence-based cancer-specific disease pathways
• Lead physician engagement in cancer quality initiatives

The Provincial Medical Co-Lead Cancer System Integration, Quality and Patient Safety will be involved in:

• NSH CCP Quality Council and its sub-committees
• NSH Cancer Site Team Leaders Committee
• Provincial Cancer Care Council
• Project groups as they relate to quality and patient safety initiatives and projects advancing the Provincial Cancer Control Strategy, e.g.  Quality Reviews, “Integration of community oncology and cancer centers” project, Levels of Care including accreditation of Community Oncology Sites

The CCP will support the Provincial Medical Co-Lead Cancer System Integration, Quality and Patient Safety by:

• Integrating the holder of this position into the CCP leadership team
• Providing support for professional development by e.g. arranging and covering expenses for a NSH/Dalhousie focused leadership course
• Facilitating the provision of access to data to plan, guide and enable decision making, measure impacts and successes and support quality improvement initiatives
• Providing administrative support in organizing meetings, taking minutes, follow through action items, coordinate, and facilitate collaborations and documentation
• Providing a small stipend, to be reviewed annually

The position is accountable to the Senior Medical Director and Senior Director of the NSH Cancer Care Program in addition to:

• The respective Head/Chief of Department, Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health;
• The respective Zone Medical Executive Director and Vice-President, Nova Scotia Health for patient care and hospital management activities.

Time Requirements

• The approximate time allocated to this position is 0.2 FTE.

• The holder of this position will be bound by the hospital by-laws and Nova Scotia Health Authority and the by-laws of Dalhousie University.

Remuneration

• Annual Compensation of $77,000 (plus HST)

Application Deadline

Monday, March 2, 2026

Application Requirement 

Please submit your expression of interest to Dr. Bruce Colwell (bruce.colwell@nshealth.ca), Senior Medical Director NSH Cancer Care Program and include no more than one-page high level description of your experience related to the position.

Qualifications

• Speciality certification in a field of oncology (preferably minimum of 5 years’ experience in clinical oncology)
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in quality initiative work
• License to practice medicine in NS and specialty license for an oncology specialty

Additional Information

Practicing in Nova Scotia

Physicians in Nova Scotia provide fulfilling patient care which embraces family life, professional development and community involvement. That's what makes practicing medicine in Nova Scotia unique. Physicians are increasingly attracted to practices that offer team-based care to their patients and allow them to consult with their peers. The size and scale of Nova Scotia allows for better connections across the health care system. Your practice of medicine and your life is richer here. Nova Scotia is more than medicine. 

Building a Diverse Workforce

The Physician Recruitment Team at Nova Scotia Health lives and works in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. We are dedicated to equity, diversity, inclusion, and truth and reconciliation, and we are working to support medical communities that are reflective of and responsive to the diverse populations they serve in Nova Scotia. We welcome physicians from diverse backgrounds and experiences to join us in building healthier, more equitable communities across the province.