Job Description: Clinician Investigator: UHN/Sinai Health Division of Rheumatology
Company: University Health Network / Sinai Health System
Location: Toronto (Ontario)
Job Category: Academic Rheumatologist
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: Not Specified
Clinician Investigator: UHN/Sinai Health Division of Rheumatology
Clinician Investigator
Division of Rheumatology
University Health Network / Sinai Health System
The Division of Rheumatology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto is seeking applicants for a Clinician Investigator who has clinical expertise and research activities focused within the domain of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The successful candidate, who will be based at the Toronto Western Hospital site of University Health Network, will be tasked with establishing a clinical research program within the lupus program to lead the development of translational biomarker research within the division and to strengthen strategic partnerships with other biomarker researchers with a focus on lupus nephritis. Applicants must have recognized clinical and scientific credentials allowing them to be eligible for a full-time clinical academic appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. Effective start date is negotiable, but could be as early as April 1, 2023.
The ideal candidate must have training and expertise in translational immunology, particularly in the integration of molecular biomarker and clinical data to predict outcomes and response to therapy for renal disease and other lupus manifestations. In addition, the candidate must have experience in the management of complex patients with SLE and other rheumatologic conditions and with completion of research protocols. The candidate must also have experience in the supervision of rheumatology trainees and medical residents, participate in the teaching program, and in patient education.
The successful candidate must hold an MD degree or equivalent and have completed subspecialty training in a recognized rheumatology postgraduate training program. He/she must have or be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Candidates should have graduate training in an area of scholarship that supports their research endeavours. The successful candidate will report directly to both the University of Toronto and University Health Network /Sinai Health System leadership for the Division of Rheumatology and for the Department of Medicine and to the Lupus Program Director. The candidate must also hold and advanced degree (minimum Masters) with focus on clinical-translational research.
Rheumatology at the University of Toronto encompasses a large, multi-centered group of clinicians, teachers, educators, and researchers. We provide unparalleled care for patients with complex, chronic rheumatologic disease and advancing care by studying pathogenesis, biomarkers, therapeutics, and clinical outcomes. We are excited to be training the next generation of rheumatology clinicians, teachers and scientists. The Division of Rheumatology is embedded within the academically focused Department of Medicine and supported by the benefits of the highly regarded University of Toronto.
The vision of the Lupus Program is to find the cure for patients with systemic lupus. The Program works to increase our understanding of SLE aetiology and progression and to help discover new treatments and prevention measures in order to improve the lives of those afflicted. (See below for further details)
Academic rank, salary and contractual arrangements will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Remuneration and start-up funding is multi-sourced and includes base salary support commensurate with the position, funding through the Alternate Funding Plan and clinical (fee-for-service) billings. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will also obtain support via grants and salary awards. Minimum salary for an academic rheumatologist in the province of Ontario would generally be $200,000/year.
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Should you be interested in this opportunity, please forward a letter of interest, an up-to-date curriculum vitae and the names/contact information of 3 suitable references to:
Dr. Nigil Haroon, Division Head, Rheumatology
University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital
1E-425, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto Western Hospital,
Toronto, ON. M5T2S8. Canada
Fax: 416-603-4348
Tel: 416-603-5634
Email: Chanchal.Anandhymahin@uhn.ca
UHN Lupus Program
Program Vision and Mission
The vision of the Lupus Program is to find the cure for patients with SLE. The Program, by leading the international research community in better understanding the disease course and discovering new treatments and prevention measures, will improve the lives of those afflicted. The ambition of Lupus Program is to continue to be the driving force behind the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Inception Cohort Registry and other research cohorts and national and international collaborations.
Our mission is to innovatively find answers in a cultivating environment that fosters collaboration to address the issues of defining personalized medicine for our patients, reduce the reliance on steroids as a primary treatment, better define and promote brain and bone complications, and prevent long-term complication such as heart disease.
Our approach has been to carefully phenotype patients with SLE over time, and to establish a biobank linked to clinical assessments. Our Program has the capacity to study both clinical and biological features of the disease. To date we have developed an excellent program and have been leaders in the development of valid instruments to assess patients and more recently our program has been able to establish the NeuroLupus Program with a focus on cognitive function and depressive symptoms.
We intend to expand our program to strengthen our work in molecular biomarkers as predictors of disease outcomes and response to therapy with particular interest in lupus nephritis with the ultimate goal of being able to provide personalized and targeted treatment for patients with SLE. This will be achieved by strengthening our team by recruiting an internationally reputed clinician investigator with expertise in SLE outcomes measures and novel biomarkers studies who shares our vision and is committed to these goals and have already developed methodology in some of these areas.
Usual Job Components for a Clinician Investigator
Clinical Activities: (40-50% of professional time)
Clinical activities will include 1 and one-half days of lupus clinic and 1 half-day general rheumatology clinic weekly. Additionally, it is expected that the successful candidate will supervise as the attending physician for our clinical ward and/or hospital-based consult service for a total of 8 weeks per year.
Teaching Activities: (approximately 10% of time but fluctuates over time)
Pedagogic activities will include formal teaching of medical students and teaching clinical clerks, residents and fellows during ward rounds and consult service. Will also participate in core teaching of medical residents and rheumatology specialty residents.
Research Activities: (50% of professional time)
The successful candidate will participate in the Lupus Program to establish and strengthen strategic partnerships and productivity. Collaborating with molecular biomarker researchers the investigator’s research will focus on the development and validation of innovative techniques for the analysis of extensive biomarker and clinical data for the prediction of outcomes in in lupus with particular interest in lupus nephritis. He/she will be an active member of national and international research groups to foster research collaboration and will foster translational-based research within the UHN/Sinai Division of Rheumatology.
Administration: (5-10% of professional time)
All members of our division are expected to participate in committees and/or other divisional/departmental activities, commensurate with their position, seniority and subspecialty expertise.