Clinical Lead, Neurogenetics

Position summary

Ontario Health is seeking expressions of interest from health care professionals with established expertise and/or formal training in genetics for the position of Clinical Lead, Neurogenetics.

Ontario Health established the Provincial Genetics Program (PGP) to ensure the provision of comprehensive, coordinated, evidence-based genetic services for Ontarians. This program provides oversight/administration for comprehensive genetic services for the people of Ontario. This is a unique opportunity to provide leadership to the evolution of the Ontario health system as we work to drive quality, accountability, and innovation. This opportunity is open to all qualified candidates.

Questions about the role may be submitted by email no later than April 30, 2025.

A consolidated list of all questions and answers will be available to any party, by request, by May 1, 2025.

Interested parties should forward their expression of interest and curriculum vitae, electronically, with the subject line as “Application for Clinical Lead, Neurogenetics - [Your Name]” no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 4, 2025.

To send a question, receive a copy of the consolidated list of questions and answers, or to submit your expression of interest please contact Sourcing@ontariohealth.ca.

Accountabilities

The key responsibilities of this role are:

1. Horizon and Jurisdictional Scanning: Ensuring Ontario’s health system is aware of and prepared for emerging genetics knowledge and practice. Identifying and understanding differences in policy and practice between Ontario and other key jurisdictions.
2. System Performance and Quality Monitoring: Leading the development and maintenance of quality indicators, and quality initiatives where applicable. Regularly attending and participating at select Ontario Health Clinical Leads committees.
3. Development of Evidence-based Guidance: Ensuring priority topics for clinical/laboratory guidance are identified and that high-quality guidance is developed and kept current.
4. Inquiries: Upon request, serve as a spokesperson and provide timely advice on specific issues in response to requests from government, media, the public, the Ontario Ombudsman, Ontario Health programs, and others.
5. Alignment: Ensuring alignment of Ontario Health efforts having an impact on/related to neurogenetics issues. Participating in the select committees and providing updates to Ontario Health.
6. Engagement: Ensuring multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder engagement in the above work. Establishing and maintaining a link with stakeholders within Ontario Health and provincially within a broad group of stakeholders involved in the provision and delivery of genetic services.

Specific accountabilities and priorities of the Clinical Lead, Neurogenetics are:

• Serve as Chair of the Genetics Expert Group with a specialized focus in neurogenetic disorders. Encompassing both pediatric and adult populations, this expert group will advise on genetic testing and clinical genetic services for rare and inherited neurogenetic conditions associated with epilepsy, neuromuscular and movement disorders, dementia and related disorders.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Genetics Expert Group workplan and ensure that schedule and scope are maintained.
• Provide advice and leadership to Ontario Health, the Ontario Laboratory Medicine Program and the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program on the discovery of new genes, implementation of new genetic tests and technologies that could impact lab services.
• Identify, track and ameliorate all risks.
• Meet with the PGP and Executive Sponsor, as required, to understand the status of the initiative and to respond to any escalated issues.
• Advocate and promote the goals and activities of the Genetics Expert Group as required across the province:
  • Bring forward to the Genetics Expert Group relevant issues from the stakeholder community and as a result of environmental scanning.
  • Champion the project through various mediums including presentations to key stakeholders.
  • Respond to media queries as requested by Ontario Health.
• Act as a liaison between Ontario Health and the genetics lab community, clinical services, research, and academia in Ontario, nationally and internationally.
• Report on the progress of initiatives as required.

Qualifications

• Clinician and/or clinician-scientist with significant expertise and focused practice in providing genetic assessment and genetic testing services to patients with a diverse set of neurogenetic disorders. Qualified candidates may include:
  • Clinical geneticist, MD or equivalent with certification in medical genetics. Requires certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC) in Medical Genetics and Genomics, the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG) in Clinical Genetics, or equivalent international certification. Licensed to practice in Ontario in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
  • Specialist MD (FRCPC or equivalent) currently practising and with significant experience in the field of neurogenetics may be considered for this role. Licensed to practice in Ontario in good standing with CPSO.
  • PhD geneticist with CCMG or American Board of Medical Genetics board certification and experience in clinical molecular genetics.
  • Genetic counsellor, MSc and/or PhD genetic counsellor, certified by the Canadian Board of Genetic Counselling (CBGC) and/or American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) with demonstrated and well recognized leadership and clinical expertise in the field of neurogenetics.
• Five to seven years’ experience in a professional leadership role, preferably outside the hospital setting.
• Proven track record of clinical leadership at the hospital and/or university level.
• Recognized as an opinion leader within the genetics and neurology community.
• In-depth knowledge of clinical, administrative and system-wide issues with respect to neurogenetics.
• Demonstrated commitment to patient-focused care and public accountability.
• Enthusiasm for, and commitment to, quality improvement in health at the system level.

How to apply

Interested parties should forward their expression of interest and curriculum vitae, electronically, with the subject line as “Application for Clinical Lead, Neurogenetics- [Your Name]” no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 4, 2025 to Sourcing@ontariohealth.ca.

We will evaluate all applications against the skills and experience requirements for the position. Those candidates selected for interview will be contacted directly by a representative from the Business Unit. Ontario Health may consider applications from incumbents currently in the position. If you have not been contacted within 3 weeks after the close of the posting, you can assume you are not under consideration for this position.

More About Ontario Health

Ontario Health is an agency created by the Government of Ontario with a mandate to connect and coordinate Ontario’s health care system in ways that have not been done before, to help ensure that Ontarians receive the best possible care.

Ontario Health oversees health care delivery across the province, which includes ensuring front-line providers and other health professionals have the tools and information they need to deliver the best possible care within their communities. This also means simplifying the current system and connecting and coordinating its many complex parts in new and innovative ways. This involves keeping a close eye on how the health system is performing and providing evidence-based standards and improvements to address any gaps.

Ontario Health helps to support significant and important transformation in Ontario’s health system, working to ease the transition between points of care for Ontarians and helping to ensure they have access to the care they need. Ontario Health is adapting world-renowned practices from areas such as cancer care and renal care to other parts of the system, including mental health and addictions.

Through integration, coordination, connection, and clinical excellence, Ontario Health is working to reduce strain on the system which will enable investment of more resources on the care Ontarians need, and, most importantly, improve health outcomes and overall wellness for all.

As an operational service agency of the Government of Ontario, Ontario Health is accountable for conducting a fair and transparent process, providing equal treatment to all qualified parties, in selecting a candidate for the above-mentioned role.