Author: ronwhite

Deputy Chief Medical Officer — First Nations Health Authority

Posted on November 30, 2020

FNHA Overview

The First Nations Health Authority is a diverse and transformational health organization of professional, innovative and dedicated team members and leaders.

The first of its kind in Canada, FNHA works as a health-and-wellness partner with BC First Nations to support self-determination and decision-making to improve health outcomes.

JOIN OUR HISTORIC JOURNEY
At FNHA, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to BC’s history. With a unique governing structure and mandate, our fluid work environment means you can play an active role in real change.
Our talented teams value respect and foster lateral kindness in their working relationships. Our holistic approach to wellness, based on First Nations teachings, is incorporated into all aspects of work culture. Where else will you get to create a personal wellness plan as part of your performance goals?

Position Summary

Are you a seasoned leader who is passionate about values-based, courageous, leadership?
Do you believe in advocating for change, health and wellness and the betterment of First Nations communities in British Columbia?

If you are looking for a great place to work, where your contributions are valued, and truly make a difference, then First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) may be the place for you!

First Nations Health Authority is looking for a Deputy Chief Medical Officer who will act as a champion for the First Nations philosophy and approach to population and public health by providing leadership in the areas of Environmental Health, Health Surveillance, Communicable Disease Management, Population Health and Health & Wellness Promotion.

In this role you’ll have an opportunity to make difference by:

Co-leading with the CMO and COO to deliver First Nations centered services and care
Providing physician leadership and strategic advice related population and public health strategies at provincial, regional, and local scale level
Building and maintaining strong partnerships and networks to ensure sustained collaboration with health system partners regionally, nationally and internationally, and acts in an advocacy role for First Nations in BC.
Providing expert advice on public health, population health, environmental public health, communicable disease, and crisis response for the BC First Nations population.
Supporting the strengthening of the practice of cultural safety and humility among physicians and other health and wellness service
Working support of the CEO, CMO, and in collaboration with COO and Regional Directors, representing FNHA on external committees

*Detailed job description will be provided available upon request or prior to interview

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

Educational and experience requirements:

A Medical Degree recognized in Canada
Fellowship with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Population and Public Health, or a Master’s Degree in Public Health
Eligible for a license to practice medicine in BC, in good standing with the relative regulatory body
Significant, recent and relevant medical practice experience
Experience in Aboriginal or Indigenous setting is an asset
Demonstrated experience in public health is preferred

Closing Statement

Diversity

The First Nations Health Authority is committed to respecting diversity within our workforce; preference will be given to individuals with Indigenous ancestry (First Nations, Inuit, Métis).

What You Can Expect From Us

Joining our family means joining an organization that supports personal growth, in-house training, a paid volunteer day and a unique full-day orientation program.

Leading with culture, all FNHA employees complete San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. We support our family to be leaders in wellness and all staff members develop a yearly wellness plan as part of their performance partnership and goal-setting.

Closing

Please note that only those applicants shortlisted will be contacted. If you do not hear from us about this position, please accept our sincere appreciation for your interest in FNHA!

For more information about us, please visit: www.fnha.ca/about/work-with-us

If you have any inquiries or issues please contact FNHA Recruitment at careers@fnha.ca or 1-844-699-3186.

Global Town Hall with Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix Nov. 25

Posted on November 22, 2020

If you would like to submit a question, Global BC will be hosting a Townhall with Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix on TV at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

You can email your questions for the townhall to questions@globalnews.ca

Trans Awareness Week

Posted on November 21, 2020

Each year between November 13 – 19, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility about transgender people and address issues members of the community face.

The week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year.

Read more about Transgender Awareness Week and the Transgender Day of Remembrance below, and find out how you can participate.

An Open Letter on COVID-19 from Island Health’s Medical Health Officers

Posted on November 20, 2020

Now is the time to double down on our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.

We have watched the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases and outbreaks on the Lower Mainland over the past weeks. Until recently, the number of positive cases throughout Island Health remained relatively low. This was not by luck. It was the result of hard work by people in communities across our region who took their responsibility to prevent the spread of this virus very seriously, supported by Island Health’s staff working to control COVID-19.

To everyone who has taken their responsibilities seriously to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our health-care system, we thank you.

The number of positive cases across Island Health are increasing, and increasing at a rate that causes us great concern. In the last two weeks, we saw 117 new cases, compared to 24 new cases in the previous two weeks. We must turn this trend around.

Some of the recent Island Health cases came from Halloween parties and other group social gatherings. People at these events acquired the virus and subsequently spread it to others – in their families, with their friends, and in the workplace.

With the growth in cases, we cannot be more clear in our ask of you – to take action now. We need you to increase your vigilance and do not let down your guard. We can bend the curve down again by staying home when we are sick, sticking to our safe six, staying 2m/6ft apart from others, washing our hands frequently and wearing a mask when we cannot observe physical distancing of 2m/6ft.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, put new orders and recommendations in place that further limit social gathering by people within Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health. She has asked all residents of BC not to travel unless it is essential. Please stay in your home communities.

Since the beginning of September to the first week of November, 86 of the 133 cases in Island Health arose from travel – either islanders going somewhere or travelers coming here. The travel ranged from overseas, other parts of Canada, to the Lower Mainland. Further, these individuals passed the virus on to 11 others who in turn infected four more people. Some of this travel was deemed essential but not all.

Now is not the time to travel outside of the Island Health region unless it’s essential, and it’s not the time to invite friends and family from outside of our region to visit or stay with us. Please stay close to home. It is easy to think we will not be the ones who transmit COVID-19 to others when we come back to the island, but the fact is, it could be any one of us who unknowingly acquires and spreads COVID-19 infection.

We know people need to find ways to stay connected. While we need to limit our social interactionsso we can keep our schools and workplaces open – and keep each other safe in our homes and in our community – it is important that we do what we can to support each other. These are challenging times, particularly for those who may live alone. Please reach out to your friends and your loved ones who may be at risk. Let them know they are not alone and find ways stay connected to them virtually.

Now is the time to ask yourself the difficult questions. What is truly essential travel? Is now the time to sit inside with a friend or is it better to grab a coffee and go for a walk outside? Will taking a pass on the games night this weekend be a big deal?

We have flattened our curve, we can do it again, by all of us doing our part and taking the actions we know will keep us safe in the coming weeks and months.

Our sincere appreciation for everything you are doing to protect yourselves and your communities. We will get through this together by working together and doing what is necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In health,

Island Health Medical Health Officers

Dr. Richard Stanwick

Dr. Charmaine Enns

Dr. Dee Hoyano

Dr. Murray Fyfe

Dr. Shannon Waters

Dr. Sandra Allison