Dean — Faculty of Medicine

Université d'Ottawa

Location: Ottawa

Reason for search: Replacement

About the University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa is a unique educational and research institution with a distinct identity, rooted in an outstanding ecosystem.

It is the only bilingual research-intensive university in Canada, the largest English-French bilingual university in the world and an institution open to the languages and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and the entire world. These three elements allow it to provide its students and employees with an environment that is linguistically, culturally and academically open and diverse.

One of the top five research-intensive universities in Canada, the University of Ottawa is a key centre of power, leadership and transformation in the heart of a G7 capital, in a bilingual city at the crossroads of scholarship, commerce and public policy. Located just steps away from Canada’s most important democratic institutions, the University is tied into a global network of embassies, internationally-renowned hospitals and national research agencies, a major arts sector and a flourishing business community. It also boasts a continually expanding campus at Kanata North, the country’s largest technology park.

This crossroads of scholarship, commerce and politics drives its some 50,000 students and over 6,000 professors and support staff to always aim higher in order to spur innovation and transform society. Together, its researchers attract more than $500 million in research revenue annually.

Faculty of Medicine

The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine is a leading academic institution, recognized as one of the best medical schools in Canada and unique in its commitment to teaching, research and health care in both official languages. Established in 1945, it has evolved into a bilingual centre of excellence, powered by generations of world-class faculty, researchers and students. Over the years, the Faculty’s undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral programs have achieved excellent accreditation results.

The Faculty is also a member of the Ottawa Academic Health Network (OAHN), a unique affiliation bringing together the University, and leading partners, including the affiliated teaching and research hospitals, to foster collaboration in research, elevate Ottawa’s reputation as a hub for health innovation, and strengthen our world-class health education ecosystem.

Its 2020–2025 strategic plan, Leading Innovation for a Healthier World, outlines a central mission: to expand the Faculty’s impact on the health of individuals and populations.
The plan introduces three strategic platforms: transformational education, world-class science and discovery and strong communities through partnerships.

It also encompasses of five unifying priorities: Francophonie, Inclusivity Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Social Justice, Innovation and Technology Integration, Local and Global Impact and Reconciliation, Action and Indigenous Health. The Faculty is therefore aiming for a sustainable impact on the health of individuals and populations, while affirming its role as a catalyst for transformative change in medicine.

Purpose

The Faculty of Medicine deanship at the University of Ottawa embraces a vision of academic, scientific and clinical excellence serving society, rooted in the needs of the communities it serves and resolutely focused on the future. As a University flagship institution and Canada’s only fully bilingual medical school, the Faculty plays a strategic role in training health leaders, advancing world-class research and sustainably improving the health of populations in Canada and around the world. The incumbent will be responsible for mobilizing this exceptional ecosystem in order to maximize the cumulative impact of teaching, research and innovation, while ensuring the Faculty’s sustainability, consistency and influence.

Key responsibilities

Reporting to the provost and vice-president, academic affairs, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa provides academic, strategic and operational leadership to one of uOttawa’s most strategic and visible faculties. The incumbent oversees all administrative aspects of the Faculty, including the management of human, financial and material resources, and ensures accountability. Leading a complex ecosystem of medical and health sciences education, cutting-edge research and strong clinical partnerships, the dean is responsible for defining and implementing an integrated vision that is consistent with the University’s overall vision and supports academic excellence, pedagogical innovation, high-impact interdisciplinary research and continuous improvement in health care and population health.

The dean works closely with members of the University’s management team, other faculties, academic and administrative units, and a wide range of external partners, including alumni, research institutes, governments, granting agencies, Indigenous and Francophone communities, and private-sector partners. The incumbent is also responsible for liaising with affiliated hospitals and institutes, and ensuring their participation in the University of Ottawa’s educational, teaching and research mission.

In addition, the incumbent is tasked with promoting an inclusive, collaborative and participatory academic environment among faculty, students, researchers and staff that is conducive to excellence. In this role, the incumbent supports talent recruitment, development and recognition; promotes equity, diversity and inclusion; and contributes to reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples.

Lastly, as an academic leader and the face of the Faculty, the incumbent contributes to the outreach, positioning and fundraising capacity of the Faculty of Medicine and the University of Ottawa. The dean embodies and advances the Faculty’s unique mission as a bilingual medical school, while reinforcing the University’s Francophone and bilingual leadership in health care and its commitment to the diverse communities it serves.

Ideal candidate profile

The dean of the Faculty of Medicine embodies strategic, forward-looking leadership, promoting pedagogical and technological innovation, including the integration of artificial intelligence, digital tools and immersive approaches (augmented and virtual reality). The incumbent has a proven track record of academic and administrative leadership within complex academic and health-care environments, as well as a keen understanding of contemporary issues in medical education, research and health-care innovation. The incumbent also masters the workings of strategic positioning, university governance and responsible resource management, and is able to rally internal and external communities around a clear, unifying vision. The dean’s visible, accessible and collaborative leadership is reflected in a recognized ability to establish and nurture lasting partnerships with teaching hospitals, granting agencies, governments, community partners and the public and private sectors, helping to increase the Faculty’s academic, scientific and societal impact.

Serving with humility, empathy and integrity, the incumbent inspires trust and fosters relationships based on respect and listening, while instilling a culture of innovation, boldness and academic excellence. Deeply committed to the University of Ottawa’s distinctively bilingual and Francophone mission, the dean demonstrates leadership guided by strategic thinking and a tangible commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigenous reconciliation and cultural safety in all spheres of governance, education, research and clinical training. An accomplished communicator in both official languages with strong interpersonal skills, the incumbent navigates the institutional, clinical and political complexities of academia with ease, actively contributing to the local, national and international profile of the Faculty of Medicine and the University of Ottawa.

A committed, inclusive workplace

The University of Ottawa is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As an institution, it is passionate about its people and dedicated to employment equity. It fosters a culture of respect, collaboration and inclusion, where teamwork, innovation and creativity fuel its quest for excellence in both teaching and research.

The University of Ottawa and Boyden aim to provide a barrier-free recruitment process and will do their utmost to meet candidates’ individual needs. Accommodations are therefore available on request. Any request for accommodations will not affect a person’s candidacy. If you are selected to participate in the recruitment process, please inform Marie-Hélène Gaudreault at mgaudreault@boyden.com about any accommodations you may need to ensure you can participate equitably.

To apply

Interested persons should forward their CV and all other relevant documents to mgaudreault@boyden.com by Monday, March 16, 2026, taking care to indicate the position title in the subject line of their message.

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Our recruiters review all applications and always make the final hiring decision. We may use AI-assisted tools to help review applications.