Scientist II or III (Cassaday-Downe Chair in Anti-Racism and Health Equity)

Description

St. Michael’s Hospital of Unity Health Toronto alongside the Temerty Faculty of Medicine are seeking applications for a full-time, permanent academic position as a Scientist II or III*. The successful candidate will also hold the Cassaday-Downe Chair in Anti-Racism and Health Equity, a joint Hospital/University chair. The successful candidate must be eligible for an academic appointment as an Affiliate Scientist at the rank of Associate or Full Professor at the University of Toronto. The appointment to the Chair is for a five-year term, with the tentative start date of September 2026 (negotiable). This position reports to the Vice President, Research & Innovation, Unity Health Toronto. The appointment process of the Chair will follow the University of Toronto Policy and Procedures for Academic Appointments, and the University Policy on Endowed and Limited Term Chairs, Professorships, Distinguished Scholars and Program Initiatives.

The Chair holder is expected to lead a world-class program of impactful research and innovation that is solution-driven and focused on addressing anti-Black racism/racism and the influence of social determinants of health. The success of this program will be measured by its effectiveness in contributing meaningfully to improving the health and well-being of Black and racialized groups and significantly contributing to Unity Health’s goals towards being a leader in health equity. The research program of the Chair should be guided by deep community partnership and should impact health systems across Canada and internationally through extensive knowledge translation and dissemination activities. The Chair will work closely with the Director of Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Accountability in the hospital to ensure that work is implemented across Unity Health through the Program for Anti-Racism and Health Equity. The Chair will also have the opportunity to join St. Michael’s Hospital’s MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Canada’s largest research centre focused on health equity and the social determinants of health. MAP develops and implements real-world, evidence-driven program and policy solutions that disrupt cycles of socioeconomic exclusion and poor health.

Qualifications

*This position will be filled as either a Scientist II OR Scientist III based on an internal assessment process, focusing on the candidate’s demonstrated skill sets, academic experience, research impact and productivity along with the position’s specific requirements.*

Scientist II

• Academic Rank / Education
• Minimum Assistant Professor but Associate Professor preferred
• MD, PhD or equivalent, with graduate training in a relevant field (e.g., public health, health policy, health services research).
• Years of ServiceMinimum 5 to 15 years of experience as an Independent Scientist
• Recognition
• Research is recognized locally, provincially and nationally and working towards international recognition with evidence of invited presentations at national conferences

Scientist III

• Academic Rank / EducationMinimum Associate Professor but Full Professor preferred
• MD, PhD or equivalent, with graduate training in a relevant field (e.g., public health, health policy, health services research).
• Years of ServiceMinimum 10 to 20 years of experience as an Independent Scientist
• RecognitionResearch is recognized locally, provincially, nationally and internationally by scientific peers with evidence of Invitations to present research at national or international conferences or distinguished institutions

* A record of excellence in scientific productivity, which would likely include:

• a strong publication record and impactful knowledge translation activities. Unity Health Toronto recognizes the importance of research focused on action to address inequities and community partnerships, which may lead to fewer academic publications but higher impact of the research.
• A history of success with obtaining external peer-reviewed funding over the past 5 years, as both Nominated Principal Investigator (NPI). Funding can be from local, provincial, federal or private funding sources, but funding from the Canadian Tri-Agencies (e.g., CIHR, SSHRC) or equivalent (e.g., NIH) would be preferred.
• Experience and success in supervising and mentoring graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and other trainees.
• This position is being advertised at both a Scientist II and Scientist III levels. Scientist level will be determined following assessment of candidates’ academic qualifications (including publication, funding, and graduate trainee records) as well as related experience against the organization’s internal Scientist level criteria.
• Demonstrated knowledge and lived experience of health challenges facing Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized Canadians.
• Demonstrated experience with the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions to address anti- Black racism/ racism, taking into account the social determinants of health at multiple levels.
• An established track record of research leadership, including in establishing collaborative and impactful interdisciplinary teams, including knowledge users, health professionals and community partners.
• Established collaborative relationships and partnerships with racialized communities and non-profit/ community-based organizations.
• Proven ability to work with healthcare organizations.
• Excellent ability to communicate with various academic, policymaker, and public audiences.

Key Accountabilities of the position will include:

• Develop and sustain a world-class program of high-impact research that is focused on ending anti-Black racism/racism in healthcare, eliminating racial disparities in life span, and improving Black patient and population health.
• Co-leadership of the Program for Anti-Racism and Health Equity, together with the Director of Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Accountability, whereby the Chair holder will lead research efforts and the Director will oversee aspects of the work that are directly tied to hospital operations.
• Initiate and maintain strong research collaborations that include local, national, and international partners.
• Build research capacity at Unity Health Toronto, including through supporting graduate students, mentoring junior investigators and engaging other members of the health care team in research.
• Engage patients and communities in research aligned with Unity Health Toronto efforts.
• Provide annual lectures and presentations on their research both within Unity Health and at relevant local, national, and international forums/conferences.
• Work with the Hospital Foundations to support their fundraising efforts in this area.

Salary

This position is being advertised at both the Scientist II and Scientist III levels. The successful candidate’s Scientist level will be determined based on a review of their academic qualifications, related experience, and demonstrated competencies, assessed against the organization’s internal job classification standards for Scientist II and III levels.

• Scientist II: ($68.77/hr. to $85.96/hr.)
• Scientist III: ($82.40/hr. to $103.00/hr.)

The Chair provides $200,000 annually, applied towards salary + benefits for the first five years. If there are remaining funds, they will be used to support the incumbent’s academic and research activities.

How to Apply

*Unity Health Toronto is partnering with BES Executive Search on this important recruitment. Applicants are guided through what BES calls ‘The BES Experience’—a thoughtful, candidate-centred process that meets candidates with support and care throughout the search process. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest (outlining their qualifications, research plans and alignment with the priorities of Unity Health) by clicking HERE.***