Associate Professor / Professor - Graham Boeckh Foundation Chair in Youth Mental Health

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in Toronto seeks an Associate Professor/Professor for the inaugural Graham Boeckh Foundation Chair in Youth Mental Health. This position focuses on advancing youth mental health research and services through community-integrated approaches. The successful candidate will lead a world-class research program and emphasize equity and collaboration in mental health systems. Ideal for a candidate with a strong track record in research and a commitment to youth engagement.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities

Support for research initiatives

Qualifications

• International presence in youth mental health research and services.
• Proven track record in securing funding and high-impact publications.
• Commitment to equity and social justice in mental health.

Responsibilities

• Lead a cutting-edge research program focused on youth mental health.
• Foster collaborations to advance research and service innovation.
• Mentor early-career researchers and support development.

Skills

Leadership skills

Mentoring

Youth engagement

Research funding acquisition

Education

MD and/or Ph.D.

Job description

Associate Professor / Professor - Graham Boeckh Foundation Chair in Youth Mental Health

Date Posted: 08/06/2025
Closing Date: 09/09/2025, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 44653
Job Category: Faculty - Clinical
Faculty/Division: Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Department: Dept of Psychiatry
Hospital Affiliation: Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Department of Psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto invite applications for the inaugural Graham Boeckh Foundation Chair in Youth Mental Health Research and Services. The start date of this full-time position will be October 1, 2026 or as mutually agreed upon. The initial term of the Chair position will be five years, with the opportunity for an additional five-year renewal following a successful review.

This Chair position is dedicated to advancing youth mental health research and services through equity-focused, community-integrated, and youth-engaged approaches. The successful candidate will develop and lead a world-class research program aimed at improving access to care, service experiences, and outcomes for youth with mental health and substance use challenges, as well as their families. The Chair will also play a pivotal role in fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, policy development, and implementation science to strengthen youth mental health systems in Canada and beyond.

About the Chair Position

The Chair will focus on integrated youth mental health services and systems transformation, with an emphasis on:

• Youth and Family Engagement: Co-designing and evaluating mental health services with young people and their families.
• Equity-Focused Research: Addressing disparities in mental health access and outcomes, particularly for marginalized populations.
• Knowledge Translation and Policy Impact: Informing and shaping policy, service delivery, and funding models through evidence-based research.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Building partnerships across healthcare, education, and social services to develop holistic, integrated care models.
• Data Governance and Implementation Science: Developing research-informed strategies to scale and sustain effective youth mental health interventions, including experience in developing large-scale data systems for youth mental health services, including development of data infrastructure, governance and systems for measurement-based care.

The Chair will serve as a scientific leader at CAMH, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship of early-career scientists, and meaningful community partnerships to ensure research findings translate into real-world improvements in youth mental health care.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will lead a cutting-edge research program focused on youth mental health and substance use, integrating clinical, population health, and implementation science methodologies. They will foster national and international collaborations to advance research and service innovation in youth mental health. A strong emphasis will be placed on equity-based, youth-centered approaches, with studies co-designed alongside youth, families, and community partners. The candidate will also mentor and support the development of early-career scientists and trainees, including individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges. In addition, they will build cross-sectoral networks to strengthen youth systems of care, collaborating with stakeholders across health, education, and social service sectors. The role involves translating research into practice to support policy and systems change, engaging with decision-makers, and advocating for evidence-based policy reform. Finally, the candidate will champion knowledge exchange through high-impact scientific publications, participation in national and international symposia, and the use of youth-friendly knowledge mobilization platforms.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will have an MD and/or Ph.D. and be eligible for (or currently hold) an academic appointment at the University of Toronto. MD candidates must be eligible for certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Psychiatry (or equivalent), and be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Applications from full Professors are preferred, but Associate Professors with a strong track record of leading independent, internationally recognized research programs will also be considered.

Candidates must demonstrate an international presence in youth mental health research and services, supported by a distinguished record of securing external research funding and producing high-impact publications. They should possess strong leadership skills and a proven track record in mentoring early-career researchers. A deep commitment to youth and family engagement, equity, and social justice in mental health research is essential. The ideal candidate will have the ability to attract, develop, and retain top research talent, and a history of successful partnerships with community organizations, policymakers, and service providers to drive meaningful and lasting change.

Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• A letter of interest outlining their vision for youth mental health research and services
• A statement of research accomplishments and future directions
• The names and contact details of three referees

Applications should be sent to Linda Burford-Mason ([e-mail]) by September 9, 2025.

CAUTION: This ad is “posted only” to the U of T affiliated hospital job board. Please see the information directly above for the application instructions; applications submitted via the "Apply Now" button on this page will NOT be considered for this position.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest academic health sciences centre and one of the world’s leading research centres in mental illness. Dedicated to improving the lives of patients today and tomorrow, CAMH is a leader in clinical care, research, education, and system building, nationally and globally. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are top priorities at CAMH, and these priorities are at the heart of theOne CAMH Strategic Plan. For more information, please visit https://www.camh.ca/

The Department of Psychiatry at University of Toronto strives to provide the best care to today’s patients and to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illness and addiction for the patients of tomorrow. Our unique breadth and depth allow us to provide sound clinical care, create novel knowledge, translate research discoveries and train the future generations of psychiatry clinicians, educators and researchers. For more information, please visit https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/

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All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

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