Description: The Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM), Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, invites applications for the Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health , established to honour the legacy of Dr. John Big-Canoe. The appointment is for a five-year term and is renewable once following a successful review. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027, but negotiable. The Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health will honour the legacy of Dr. John Big-Canoe by advancing a thriving community of Indigenous health faculty, staff, trainees, and Indigenous community partners in Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) at the University of Toronto and beyond. Upholding Indigenous community co-leadership requirements
- nothing

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- the Big-Canoe Chair will partner and collaborate to make tangible and meaningful contributions to Indigenous peoples, Indigenous health systems and Indigenous reconciliation in areas prioritized by Indigenous communities and Indigenous health leaders. They will support the ongoing creation within DFCM of groundbreaking, culturally safe sites of excellence in Indigenous primary care clinical education, scholarship, and policy development. They will lead Indigenous specific program strategy, partnerships, and interdisciplinary collaboration across DFCM’s internal and external stakeholders. They will support DFCM in becoming a Department of Choice for Indigenous learning and scholarship
- attracting outstanding Indigenous learners, faculty and staff. The role will also include understanding and addressing the mentorship needs of emerging Indigenous health leaders across the spectrum of potential and existing students, faculty, and staff.



The Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health is tied to the department’s existing Indigenous Health Lead position and will support an Indigenous family physician to oversee a wide range of activities and initiatives tied to Indigenous health, including but not limited to: leading and assessing the department’s continued adoption of Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations; developing and delivering new and expanded training programs in Indigenous health for all faculty members and learners; ensuring teaching and training sites are culturally-secure spaces for Indigenous-identifying practitioners and patients; and evaluation of the department’s movement towards reconciliation
- including the impact of actions taken. The Chair will be supported by and provide advice to the department’s Indigenous Leadership Circle including the departmental Indigenous education lead, who is responsible for supporting and strengthening Indigenous health curriculum and clinical training opportunities. The inaugural Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health will be encouraged to refine the role, building on their experience, aptitudes, and aspirations. This may include focused Indigenous health contributions in specific areas of practice, teaching, research or policy. In partnership with departmental leadership and the ILC, the Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health may also engage in strategic consulting initiatives and fundraising.





Roles and Responsibilities

- Co-lead the Indigenous Leadership Circle (ILC)
- Co-develop and advance an Indigenous wellbeing, partnerships and reconciliation strategic plan for DFCM
- Engage and partner with local and regional Indigenous community organizations, Elders, knowledge keepers and health leaders to actively co-lead and participate in DFCM Indigenous initiatives
- Provide advice and support to the DFCM Indigenous education lead
- Work in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Health, Temerty Faculty of Medicine to harmonize Indigenous activities in DFCM with those of the broader Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto
- Strengthen Indigenous partnerships and collaborations provincially, nationally and internationally
- Prepare an Annual report to the Chair, summarizing progress, challenges, and next steps to improve impact and outcomes
- Be available for strategic advice and discussions as needed with members of the DFCM executive team
- Foster Indigenous specific scholarly inquiry and evaluation
- Actively contribute to the advancement of Indigenous interests through advocacy and expert policy recommendations
- Assess and support response to the mentorship needs of current and potential Indigenous health learners, providers, and teachers across the continuum of education and health disciplines, with a focus on those engaged in family and community medicine.

Skills/Qualifications

- Certification with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (or equivalent)
- Graduate Degree or similar training in areas that are relevant to quality improvement, system innovation and/or knowledge translation
- Hold or be eligi

📌 Associate Professor/ Professor (Toronto)
🏢 Department of Familymmunity Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
📍 Toronto