Dr. Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Western University

Appointment Rank and Type:                Clinical Academic Appointments as Limited Term Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, or a Continuing Associate Professor or Professor or a Tenured Appointment at the rank of Associate or Professor.

Number of Positions:                            One

Posting Date:                                        July 31, 2026

Closing Date to Apply:                          Consideration of applications will begin on October 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. 

Anticipated Start Date:                          July 1, 2027 or as negotiated.      

Position Profile: The Department of Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, is inviting applications for the Dr. Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine. The Dr. Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine was established to honour Dr. McWhinney who was the first Professor of Family Medicine in Canada and the first Chair of the Department of Family Medicine. As one of the best-resourced Chairs within the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry portfolio, this Endowed Chair offers the successful candidate exceptional opportunity to build a thriving research program in Family Medicine. The successful candidate will be appointed to the Department of Family Medicine with a potential joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics or cross appointment(s) in other relevant departments.

Academic and Clinical Expectations: A successful candidate with an MD or equivalent and eligible to practice medicine in Ontario will be considered for Limited Term Clinical Academic appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate, or a Continuing Clinical Academic appointment at the rank of Associate or Professor based on their experience, academic record, and stage of career progression. 

A successful candidate who is not eligible to practice medicine in Ontario and holds a PhD and MD or equivalent will hold a Tenured appointment at the rank of Associate or Professor based on their experience, academic record, and stage of career progression. 

This is research-intensive position with significant protected time for research, therefore the successful candidate may or may not be a practicing physician, although ideally would have some engagement in family practice. The Chairholder will be committed to academic activity and program development within family medicine research. The Chairholder will also have education (undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate) and administrative duties and expectations as determined by the Department(s) and aligned with clinical (as applicable) and research interests of the successful candidate. If the chairholder is a practicing family physician, clinical work and learner supervision, aligned with their interests, will be expected.

Qualifications: Candidates holding an MD or equivalent must have a robust research program that also provides sufficient time to practise as a family physician and also hold certification, or be eligible for certification, from the College of Family Physicians of Canada and be eligible for licensure in the Province of Ontario. A candidate holding a relevant Master’s or PhD degree is preferred.

For candidates holding an MD or equivalent and not eligible to practice medicine in Ontario, a relevant  PhD is required. 

Any successful candidate will have at least 5 years experience as an independent scientist or researcher with a well-established research program. The chairholder will be expected to have an excellent publication record and documented success at securing internal and external research grant support. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated excellence in Family Medicine, Primary Care, Medical Education, and/or Health Services Research with long-term engagement with family medicine and/or primary care.

Compensation Details: The Chair appointment is for a five-year period, with a high probability of renewal for one additional term pending review recommendation. Compensation will be commensurate with appointment type, qualifications and experience. This endowed chair has substantial resources that allows for significant salary/benefits and research support for the successful candidate. 

If the successful candidate is an MD appointed as a Clinical Academic their compensation will be based on qualifications and experience and will be composed primarily of the following sources: clinical income, alternative funding plan, and/or salary support. 

If the successful candidate holds a PhD and MD and is appointed to a Tenured appointment, the salary range for this position will be $160,000 - $210,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Affirmation Policy Statement: Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 - Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University

The Departments:  The Department of Family Medicine is an academic leader of family medicine in Canada. The Department is committed to training and inspiring the next generation of Family Physician clinicians, researchers, educators, and leaders. We deliver the highest quality clinical care, produce impactful research, advance inter-disciplinary care models, and strengthen community partnerships. The Ian McWhinney Chair holder will conduct research within the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine (CSFM), a world-renowned centre for primary care research within the Department of Family Medicine. The CSFM specializes in interdisciplinary research in family medicine, primary care, health systems, and community health to transform the health and care of patients, providers and the population.

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics has 127 faculty members including core, cross-appointed and adjunct members, and offers an Honors Specialization, Major and Minor Module at the undergraduate level as well as a PhD program and a thesis-based MSc program. Information on the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics’ research programs, including clusters of substantive expertise and methodological approaches and disciplines, is available at: http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/epibio/research/research_clusters/index.html. 

The University: Western University is a research-intensive university with full-time enrolment exceeding 34,000 students and a full range of academic and professional programs.  The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry provides an outstanding educational experience within a research-intensive environment where tomorrow's physicians, dentists and health researchers learn to be socially responsible leaders in the advancement of human health. 

The City: London, Ontario is Canada’s 10th largest city with a population exceeding 400,000, a catchment area of 2.4 million, and is situated in southwestern Ontario between Toronto and Detroit.  The region has a strong economy and excellent primary and secondary school systems for residents with children.  It is a safe and culturally diverse city. With parks, tree-lined streets and bicycle trails, London is known as the “Forest City”. London boasts an international airport, galleries, theatre, music, and sporting events. See www.ledc.com/why-london to learn more. 

To apply: Interested candidates should send a letter of intent that includes a) an overview of past research and description of proposed research plan, b) plan to build collaborations, networks, and knowledge translation locally and beyond, c) history and commitment to mentorship, d) statement on commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, along with a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three referees.  Please complete, sign and include the appropriate form from the following links:

If practicing MD: http://uwo.ca/facultyrelations/physicians/Application_FullTime_Clinical.pdf  

or

If candidate holds a PhD and MD: http://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/careers/full-time-application-form-new.pdf 

to:

Committee Co-Chairs, Dr. Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine

Scott McKay, MD, CCFP(COE) FCFP 

Dale Laird, PhD, FCAHS

Linda Gough via e-mail: lgough4@uwo.ca

 Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine 

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University 

1465 Richmond St.

London, Ontario CANADA N6G 2M1

Applications should be compiled into a single PDF prior to submission.  

Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Scott McKay at smckay28@uwo.ca prior to applying, if desired. 

Vacancy Disclosure Statement: This position is an existing vacancy.    

Business Addresses: 
Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, N., London, Ontario N6A 5B8, www.uwo.ca; 

London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road E., London Ontario, N6A 5W9, www.lhsc.on.ca; 

St. Joseph’s Health Care London, 268 Grosvenor Street, London Ontario, N6A 4V2, www.sjhc.london.on.ca 

Successful candidates will be required to comply with the policies and protocols of the applicable affiliated institutions.

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communication skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression. 

In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

Accommodations are availablefor applicants with disabilitiesthroughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Linda Gough at linda.gough@schulich.uwo.ca phone 519-661-2111 ext.86609.

Posting number:  2026-068-CL