Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

As a senior public health physician within the provincial government, the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health (ACMOH) provides medical leadership and public health expertise to recommend and support the approval and implementation of policy, programs, standards and legislation which are consistent with Ontario's public health priorities. As the primary interface on public health science with Public Health Ontario (PHO), Medical Officers of Health (MOHs), Associate Medical Officers of Health (AMOHs), other ACMOHs and federal/provincial/territorial public health leaders, the ACMOH plays a critical role linking and integrating public health system partners, with specific responsibility for communicable/infectious disease prevention and control.

The ACMOH also carries out all legal and programmatic responsibilities in the absence of the CMOH.

Duties / Responsibilities :

21. Statement of Major Responsibilities (How is purpose achieved?)

1. Provides medical leadership, strategic issues analysis and advice to the CMOH and senior ministry officials on communicable/infectious disease initiatives (e.g. blood borne infections, sexually transmitted infections, respiratory infections, vaccine preventable diseases and immunization, vector-borne diseases, vertically transmitted (transplacental) infections, infections acquired through direct contact, hospital/institutional acquired infections, etc.). Provides direction and leadership in the strategic application of public health science, research and business intelligence in communicable/infectious disease to support the division's policy and long-range planning activities.

2. Facilitates system-wide public health planning, integration and alignment by building relationships with public health system partners including Public Health Ontario, MOHs, AMOHs, other ACMOHs, other ministries and partners at the Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels. Represents Ontario's interests and exercises authority and decision-making on behalf of the CMOH with external colleagues and partners (e.g. PHO, Pan-Canadian Public Health Network, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Association of Local Public Health Agencies, Ontario Public Health Association).

3. Represents the CMOH and exercises authority and decision-making in inter-ministerial deliberations (e.g. Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Health Promotion and Sport, Environment, Children and Youth Services, Community and Social Services, Education, Labour, Natural Resources) of significance to public health programming and delivery.

4. Serves as a primary interface with Public Health Ontario, on communicable/infectious disease surveillance (e.g. priorities, methods), communicable/infectious disease public health laboratory matters and works with PHO to plan and obtain scientific evidence and research required to support public health policy, programs and standards development related to communicable/infectious disease.

5. Leads strategic partnerships with public health system partners to proactively identify potential gaps in public health policies and programs related to communicable/infectious disease. Leads preliminary research scoping activities by recommending questions or issues requiring further investigation, identifying potential sources of information (e.g. Public Health Units), research methodologies and partners.

6. Provides leadership in evidence-informed decision making, focusing on knowledge translation and the application of scientific evidence and research to public health policy and programs related to communicable/infectious disease. Critically appraises research and scientific evidence, identifying areas requiring further investigation and recommending questions or topics to facilitate the collection of missing information. Clarifies desired research outcomes, including desired products, their purpose and use. Identifies required field testing/validation; serving as a check-in point before release.

7. Builds partnerships across the Ontario Public Sector to provide evidence required to inform policy, standards and program development related to communicable/infectious disease. Provides medical leadership to address clinical or scientific gaps which may be impeding approval of recommended health policies, standards and programs.

8. Exercises power and holds statutory responsibility, as outlined under sections 81.1 of the Heath Protection and Promotion Act, including: performing functions and duties as the Chief Medical Officer of Health may specify in writing or shall act in the place of the CMOH when the CMOH is absent or unable to perform the functions of his or her office or when the office of CMOH is vacant.

9. Provides strategic planning, policy and priority setting analysis and direction in support of the role of the CMOH including developing and making presentations to Cabinet and Cabinet Committees on behalf of the CMOH and assisting in the preparation of the annual written report on the state of public health and special reports to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

10. Acts as a mentor to Division colleagues to support their learning and development and acts as a key representative to the public health system to encourage students to consider public health careers. Contributes to the development of the public health practice by facilitating student education and training for Medical Officers of Health.

11. As a member of the Divisional management team, provides input to decision-making and strategic direction setting.

12. Supports the CMOH in leading and coordinating Ontario's public health response to public health emergencies and outbreaks; directing and mobilizing staff in emergency and outbreak situations, in collaboration with other ministries in the OPS and the Federal government; and through discussions and negotiations for Shared Services Agreements at the local, national and international levels.

13. Participates in divisional on-call schedule, which in collaboration with Public Health Ontario, provides 24/7 coverage, 365 days per year for general, health and public health events, outbreaks and emergencies.

Knowledge :

Formal Education: A degree in medicine from a university of recognized standing and a Fellowship in Community Medicine (Public Health and Preventive Medicine) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In addition, the incumbent must have a license to practice medicine in Ontario with a minimum of five years experience as a practicing public health physician. Other qualifications as prescribed under the Health Protection and Promotion Act for a medical officer of health.

Skills and Knowledge: Extensive knowledge and understanding of the field of public health, including emerging trends and issues, particularly in the areas of communicable/infectious disease (e.g. blood borne infections, sexually transmitted infections, respiratory infections, vaccine preventable diseases and immunization, vector-borne diseases, vertically transmitted (transplacental) infections, infections transmitted through direct contact, hospital/institutional acquired infections, etc.) to assist the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) in providing the necessary leadership, strategic decision-making and direction to promote and protect the health of Ontarians, to act in the place of the CMOH as outlined in the Heath Protection and Promotion Act and to provide medical leadership and strategic issues analysis advice on state-of-the-art disease prevention, health protection and health promotion standards, principles, practices and trends. Knowledge and understanding of evidence-informed practice, knowledge translation and the application of research in practice to support policy decision making. Understanding of the strategic application of public health informatics and business intelligence to support the division's long-range planning activities.

Comprehensive knowledge of the government's directions and objectives for the public health system, understanding of government decision making and legislative, policy development and best business practices and processes to provide leadership in public health system policy and planning development initiatives, to develop and make presentations to Cabinet and Cabinet Committees and to provide strategic oversight and operational direction for the development and implementation of the framework to drive critical change and revitalization of the public health system in Ontario.

Expert knowledge and interpretative understanding of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to exercise ACMOH legal powers under the Act and understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Smoke-Free Ontario Act, Immunization of School Pupils Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act) to provide strategic direction regarding policy and programs under a variety of legislative authorities.

Strategic issues analysis skills and understanding of risk assessment and management to provide proactive assessment, management and communications of major health issues. Superior leadership and management skills to provide direction of an assigned portfolio, leadership to the public health system and act as a mentor to Division colleagues. Stakeholder management and partnership skills to develop and maintain relationships with Division/Ministry senior management and to represent Ontario's interests with external colleagues and partners at the federal, provincial and territorial levels and across borders. Financial management skills to assess feasibility, risk factors and impact of proposed decisions on funding initiatives. Superior communication and negotiation skills to influence senior officials and other public/community health professionals, to collaborate with other medical professionals, to enlist cooperation and acceptance of recommendations, to present convincing, informed and well-substantiated policy/legislation recommendations and to support the CMOH in preparing special reports and the annual report to the Legislature on the state of public health in Ontario. Media skills as required by issues or in support of the CMOH. Presentation skills to represent Ontario's public health achievements and concerns in inter-provincial/national/international committee forums and to the Legislature. Strategic planning and organizational skills to simultaneously address numerous high profile public health issues.

Judgement :

Position works under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and exercises statutory powers under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Broad information and guidance are also available through medical ethics, Ministry guidelines, standards and technical journals. Position exercises a high level of judgement, both medically and operationally, when assisting the CMOH/ED in providing the necessary leadership, strategic decision-making and direction to promote and protect the health of Ontarians while managing an assigned portfolio to support the ministries' directions for a revitalized public health system. Judgement is exercised in providing advice to the CMOH/ED and senior ministry officials on significant external developments which impact ministry priorities and strategic plans; in providing proactive risk assessment, management and communications and articulating the government's response to risk/potential risk. Judgement is exercised in promoting evidence-informed practice which contribute to the public health knowledge base and improvement of public health programs and services; and in ensuring that Ministry, divisional and sector priorities are identified and communicated to PHO and executed in the strategic plan of the Agency. Judgement is exercised in directing and mobilizing staff in emergency and outbreak situations, representing Ontario's interests and exercising authority and decision-making on behalf of the CMOH with external colleagues and partners and in ensuring the integration of comprehensive risk management and decision-making and overseeing the operation of a sound system of processes, infrastructure and organizational controls.

Accountability - Programs :

As a senior public health physician with the provincial government, accountable to address specific duties and exercise statutory powers under the Health Protection and Promotion Act by performing functions and duties as the CMOH may specify in writing and act in the place of the CMOH when the CMOH is absent or unable to perform the functions of his or her office or when the office of the CMOH is vacant. Assists the CMOH/ED Public Health Division in providing the necessary, strategic decision making and direction to promote and protect the health of Ontarians. Provides strategic leadership of an assigned portfolio. Provides strategic oversight and operational direction for the development and implementation of the framework to drive critical change and revitalization of the public health system in Ontario, through a range of bold, system wide changes and program initiatives to make the public health system stronger, more responsive and sustainable for future generations.

Accountability – Personnel :

Leads a diverse team of public health discipline specialists, professionals, policy and administrative leaders within an assigned portfolio.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Manages an assigned portfolio and administration of transfer payments, ensuring adequate monitoring and control of large multi-million dollar transfer payments. Provides leadership for the planning and management of portfolio budgets.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Ineffective exercise of powers under the HPPA could seriously jeopardize the health of Ontarians, resulting in criticism of the CMOH/ED and the government to effectively respond to a range of actual or perceived public health risks and/or issues. Ineffective leadership would result in ineffective policy and program development and commitment to a renewed public health system in Ontario. Ineffective leadership could result in inappropriate initiatives being adopted at the provincial, municipal and national levels and public/media criticism. Inappropriate decisions could result in an ineffective public health delivery system further resulting in increased untimely deaths due to illness and loss of public confidence in the health care system.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with colleagues at all levels of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport, including the Minister's office to enable effective program development, delivery and evaluation, operations and management and to provide strategic leadership and direction on all issues. Regular contact with the ministries' Communication and Information Branches, to exchange information and clarify/present Public Health Division positions. Frequent contact with senior level colleagues in other ministries (e.g. Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Health Promotion and Sport, Environment, Children and Youth Services, Community and Social Services, Education, Labour, Natural Resources) to represent the CMOH and exercise authority and decision making in inter-ministerial deliberations. Occasional contact with the Premier's Office to respond to inquiries and to provide briefings, expertise and advice in response to public health emergencies on behalf of the CMOH.

Contact - External :

Frequent contact with Public Health Ontario, ACMOHs, federal, municipal and other governmental jurisdictions, boards of health, Medical Officers of Health, hospitals, universities, community colleges and other organizations (e.g. Cancer Care Ontario) to develop critical collaborative efforts and initiatives, to provide leadership and advice, exchange information and to exercise authority under HPPA as required. Frequent contact with medical schools, community colleges and their committees to exchange information on the co-ordination of public health issues and objectives to champion health promotion, and communicable/infectious disease control in Ontario. Represents the CMOH and Province in dealing with public health emergencies/disasters (on call 24 hours, 7 days a week).