< Previous page Henri M. Toupin Chair in Neurology, University of Alberta - #2349

Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and reporting to the Director, Division of Neurology, the Henri M. Toupin Chair in Neurology will be expected to help bridge the gap between basic and clinical science and in effect, significantly enhance Neurosciences in northern Alberta. The purpose of the Henri M. Toupin Chair in Neurology is to attract a world class researcher with a special interest in neurological disorders. We are seeking an accomplished researcher with expertise in movement disorders, cognitive disorders, neurogenetics or other academic subspecialty areas of neurology, which includes, but is not limited to:

• Vascular neurology or stroke;
• Neuro-inflammation;
• Biomedical engineering;
• Neuroimaging;
• Neurodegenerative disease;
• Comorbidity/Concurrent disorders;
• Epidemiology; and
• Neuro-oncololgy.

The incumbent will hold a full-time faculty appoint in the Division of Neurology at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The term will be for a five-year period and the incumbent may apply for reappointment to additional terms. Funding for this position was established with funds from the Henri M. Toupin Medical Foundation. The Chair will be required to provide an annual report to the Dean and the Chair of the Department of Medicine, who will in turn, share the information with the donor. The incumbent will acknowledge that she or he holds the Henri M. Toupin Chair in Neurology in all publications, lectures, and any other activities supported by the endowment.

Key Accountabilities include:

• Providing experience and leadership within a well established and well functioning Neurology program;
• Leading measurable advancement of an area of neurological or neuroscience research at the University of Alberta;
• Promoting and facilitating collaborative research across disciplines, building on existing strengths and utilizing the existing resources available at the University of Alberta and broadly across the global scientific and clinical communities;
• Facilitate the development of an internationally recognized research program and enhance the profile for the University of Alberta Neurology program throughout the international research community;
• Focusing research activities on relevant and emerging issues and services related to Neurological diseases;
• Developing research to be shared with the Neurology community, policy makers, planners and the general public as appropriate;
• A focus on translational research, health outcomes, methodology, administration and/or health informatics as related to Neurology; and
• Support the attraction of outstanding residents, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates and faculty members to the University of Alberta, to build capacity in Neurological research.

It is important that the successful candidate possess the following attributes:

• A MD and/or PhD degree;
• Possess a strong reputation and proven leadership in the field of neurological or neuroscience research with demonstrated success in productivity and dissemination of research;
• Success in applying for grant funding with the intention to further enhance the research and education program;
• Proven success in attracting and mentoring graduate students and post doctoral fellows;
• Visionary leader with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships that bring a variety of stakeholders, and multi-disciplined researchers together;
• Superior verbal and written communication skills; and
• Innovative ideas on how to consolidate clinical and research activities.

The Division of Neurology

Research collaboration and excellence have remained a constant focus for the Division of Neurology. During 2008, the Division was awarded approximately $10 million in funding which resulted in 107 peer reviewed papers, 150 abstracts, and three books. Currently, nine faculty members hold 16 CIHR grants worth approximately $2 million, which extend into 2011. There are additional CIHR grants under review and this funding has exceeded $2 million for the last four years. In addition, two faculty members also are recipients of NIH grants which are worth approximately $450,000. The Division is proud to have three faculty members who hold Canada Research Chairs; and have been the recipients of several national and international awards. Other attractions to the Division include a:

• PRION Disease Research Centre;
• Strong Pediatric neurology and autism group; and
• Strong physiology research in neurological disorders at the Centre for Neuroscience, which offers educational programs for graduate students.

The Division of Neurology has 37 faculty members, who support 14 outpatient clinics and several outreach programs to Alberta’s northern communities. In last five years, 12 students have successfully completed their residency with 10 going on to pass the FRCPC and moving into subspecialty fellowships in Stroke, Epilepsy, Neuromuscular / ALS, Stroke Genomics, Pain, Cognitive and Interventional Neurology. The Division is collaborating with several schools in the areas of community-based medicine, molecular and systems medicine, cancer and imaging, and human development. Most notably, the Magnetic Resonance research facility in the Walter C Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre is second to none in Canada, and provides an opportunity for the Division to collaborate with the Faculty’s strong biomedical engineering group.

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry strives for academic excellence and pursuit of their stated core purpose “to promote health through innovative leadership in research, education and service.” To achieve the core purpose and vision of the Faculty, the values of: scholarship; leadership; excellence in the context of social responsibility and accountability; honesty and integrity; people first; and collective success supporting individual excellence, are held in high regard.

The achievements of the Faculty are evident in all of its portfolios. The Faculty garners over 40% of the University’s overall research funding and employs many national and international awardees. Academically, the Faculty graduates medical students that rank first in the country on the licensing examination and has established several renowned clinical programs.

Since its beginning in 1913, Medicine at the University of Alberta has had a tradition of educating highly skilled practitioners. The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta is dedicated to providing learner-centered educational programs that meet the health-care needs of our communities by graduating qualified, compassionate and inquisitive practitioners and researchers accomplished in health-care delivery and scholarship. The Faculty is committed to serving patients and populations by providing a rich interdisciplinary environment of learning, practice, research and public service for all its students and faculty.

The size and complexity of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is emphasized by the following numbers: 20+ Departments organized into eight virtual Schools; 25 Research Centres and Institutes; 12 Research Groups; seven national networks of Centres of Excellence; undergraduate programs in four areas (MD, DDS, DH, and MLS); 54 postgraduate residency programs; 19 graduate programs; 826 full-time faculty; 1,341 clinical faculty; 297 support staff funded from the operating budget; 739 trust-funded support staff; approximately 1,300 undergraduate students (including an intake in 2009 of 189 medical students, 36 dental students, 44 dental hygienist students and 32 medical laboratory science students); 491 graduate students; 772 residents; over 100 fellows in various programs; and three active Rhodes Scholars.

Innovations such as the the Faculty's HOMER online learning community allows students to access core curriculum materials from anywhere, at anytime. The Homer system serves to monitor the curriculum, and facilitates student exchanges and group on-line learning through hosting the vod-casts of more than 95% of all lectures currently given in the first two years. Other innovations include one of Canada's most successful medical education programs for Aboriginal students, the Aboriginal Health Care Careers Program; and the Rural Integrated Community Clerkship program, which allows some third-year medical students to experience a rural practice for an extended period of time, effectively replacing the rotation-based third year clerkship. Participation in the program has doubled over the last four years and will see 18 to 20 students working in 9 or 10 communities in 2010.

The Faculty is witnessing expansion of all programs, and is increasing enrolment to meet the need. Growth of the Office of Medical Education to support Faculty member education will be a priority in 2010 with the recruitment of the endowed Gilbert Chair in Medical Education Research.

Research
Under the leadership of Dean Philip Baker, the Faculty has placed a renewed emphasis on research programs and is actively recruiting to attract more of the best and brightest to further enhance their international reputation as a forerunner in the area of scientific inquiry and the dissemination of new knowledge.

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta strives to be an international leader in generating, applying and disseminating new medical knowledge for the benefit of all. As such, research is given high priority and is fully integrated with teaching activities. University of Alberta researchers are among the most competitive in the country in terms of funding from the major federal granting councils and other sources. The Faculty's excellence in this area is amply demonstrated. In 2008-2009, it generated an estimated $190 million in research funding, making up 40 per cent of the University’s total.

Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry explore every aspect of health and disease, from evidence-based orthodontics to pediatric pathology to changing public policy. Many of the research groups are recognized globally and lead the world in diabetes research with the development of the Edmonton protocol for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes. The Faculty is also in the forefront in several other areas, including virology, metabolomics, prions, cardiovascular science, neuroscience and pediatrics.

With support from major research institutions, other government organizations and charitable foundations, the Faculty has attracted many world-class investigators. Together, they have created a vibrant environment for basic and applied research covering a wide spectrum. The University’s scientists are highly sought after by research centres in North America, Europe and throughout the world.

For additional information on the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, please visit: www.med.ualberta.ca . For additional information on the Department of Medicine, please visit: www.medicine.med.ualberta.ca

Department of Medicine:
As the largest Department at the University, there is a vested interest to making the Department of Medicine a leader in enhanced patient care, research and education. Their vision is “to achieve international standards of excellence in their educational and research programs in order to provide exemplary contributions to the health of the current and future generations they serve.”

Currently the Department of Medicine is comprised of the Division of General Internal Medicine and twelve subspecialties which include: Cardiology; Dermatology; Endocrinology; Gastroenterology; Geriatric Medicine; Hematology; Infectious Diseases; Nephrology; Neurology; Pulmonary Medicine; Rheumatology; and Community and Occupational Medicine. Academic physicians in the Department provide tertiary/quaternary care for Alberta Health Services and assume administrative functions in the Department, University, Alberta Health Services and other health organizations. Physicians teach and deliver a clinical experience to undergraduate students, residents, fellows and postdoctoral fellows. All faculty members must be involved in scholarly activity and research. The Department has over 320 full-time and part-time faculty members.

The primary source of funding for the Department is the Academic Alternate Relationship Plan (AARP). The AARP has served as a strategic planning tool and is critical in allowing the Department to recruit specialists in internal medicine and provide innovative ways of delivering health care. The AARP pools funds from various sources and remunerates physicians with a predictable income based on a compensation grid that reflects years of service and training. By not functioning in a fee-for-service environment, physician’s time is protected to pursue scholarly activities beyond their clinical practice, including research, teaching and administration. Incorporating the University Operating Budget and the Practice Plan Budget, the Department of Medicine has a total budget of approximately $62.5M per annum.

Since the arrival of the AARP, the Department has seen increased retention and growth in the recruitment of world class clinician specialist and clinician scientists at all levels. Time has been freed up to train the next generation of clinical investigators and basic scientists as well. As a result, the graduate student program and post doctoral fellows’ numbers have doubled over the past five years. The freeing up of academic time through the AARP enhances the bi-directional nature of the science and enhances the bench-to-bedside communication. The ability to integrate this knowledge into the health science milieu enhances the care of people in Alberta and will better serve the Canadian community at large.

The University of Alberta
Our client, the University of Alberta, is recognized as one of the premier teaching and learning institutions in Canada, as well as an incubator of creative research and groundbreaking discovery. The University of Alberta serves more than 37,000 students in 200 undergraduate programs and 170 graduate programs. As an organization, the University is moving “Dare to Discover: A Vision for a Great University” from words and ideas into decisive actions. Based on four cornerstones – Talented People; Learning, Discovery, and Citizenship; Connecting Communities; and Transformative Organization and Support – the University aspires to be one of the top 20 public universities in the world by the year 2020.

Mission: Within a vibrant and supportive learning environment, the University of Alberta discovers, disseminates and applies new knowledge through teaching and learning, research and creative activity, community involvement and partnerships.

The University of Alberta gives a national and international voice to innovation in the province of Alberta, taking a lead role in placing Canada at the global forefront. Internationally, the University of Alberta is considered one of the top research universities in the world and has 336 teaching and research agreements with governments and partner institutions in 50 countries. As an employer, the University of Alberta was named one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers for 2010.

The University of Alberta has played a key role in building Canada’s most diverse and booming economy, and Edmontonians are proud their city is home to the University. In a July 2008 survey, 82 per cent of residents said the University of Alberta was “very important” to civic pride, nearly double the next closest institution.

The University of Alberta and the City of Edmonton have grown and prospered together over the last century and are poised to soar even higher in the next century. The University acts as a magnet drawing some of the world’s best students and researchers to this dynamic city of one million people situated on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. Edmonton’s stellar public school system, fantastic recreational opportunities, and superior cultural institutions are a major draw. The rolling prairies around Edmonton flow into the majestic Rocky Mountains with all they have to offer less than four hours to the west.

For additional information on the University of Alberta, please visit: www.ualberta.ca .

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Korey Jackson (780) 432-5490 Ext. 413; or
Antara Spitzig (780) 432-5490 Ext. 407;
CONROY ROSS PARTNERS LIMITED

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.

The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and Aboriginal persons.

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