Chief, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

The Hospital for Sick Children; Toronto; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's hospital in Toronto seeks a Chief of Otolaryngology. The successful candidate will oversee paediatric care and promote research and education. This full-time role demands strong leadership and clinical excellence with an academic commitment at the University of Toronto. A competitive compensation package is offered, and the position will start in September 2026. Candidates are encouraged to apply by February 1, 2026, ensuring diverse representation in the selection process.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package

Support for relocation expenses

Qualifications

• Eligibility for medical licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
• Strong administrative and leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high-quality paediatric otolaryngology clinical care.
• Promote research interests and education for clinical fellows.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Management proficiency

Research expertise

Education

MD, MBBS or equivalent

Board certified

Job description

Overview

Chief, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) - Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto are seeking to recruit the next SickKids Department Chief who will be a full time academic paediatric Otolaryngologist – Head & Neck surgeon. The successful candidate will have an academic position description of OHNS scientist/investigator or teacher and must be eligible for a full-time clinical academic appointment at the rank of associate or full professor at the University of Toronto. The effective start date of this appointment will be September 2026 but can be negotiated.

The Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at SickKids is highly specialized, focusing on disease, injury, and congenital disorders – related to the ear, nose, throat and larynx, head, and neck. The Department is comprised of seven full-time academic surgeons and is the largest provincial and national training centre for paediatric OHNS surgeons. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to leverage multidisciplinary, clinical and basic science facilities that are available on the hospital campus, including the 21-story research institute, and the University of Toronto’s Department of Otolaryngology-HNS.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Department Chief role include ensuring the provision of the highest quality paediatric otolaryngology clinical care. The Department Chief should promote the individual research interests of faculty and take the initiative to drive a collective endeavour such as prospective outcomes of research. Ensuring top quality education for clinical fellows and residents together with faculty coordinators is essential. The successful candidate will be expected to continue to build upon a culture of quality and safety. Demonstrated clinical excellence will be critical as is the expectation that the successful candidate will also provide direct clinical care.

We are seeking an individual whose leadership qualifications include management proficiency, dispute resolution, communications expertise, mentoring capabilities, the ability to engender trust, function collaboratively with all manner of clinical teams and administration. Additionally, the successful candidate will have a long-term vision for the Department which integrates with the mission of Peri-Operative Services, the Hospital and the University of Toronto.

An appropriate candidate may choose to focus on a particular pediatric population. Other clinical duties include participation in the emergency on call schedule at SickKids. Clinical and academic time allocation will be negotiated based upon the candidate’s qualifications, scholarly productivity, and academic plan. Demonstration of breadth, depth, and innovation in clinical and operative practice will be a significant asset. Demonstrated academic excellence in basic or clinical research, surgical education, quality and safety, or other academic pursuits is required.

Qualifications

• MD, MBBS or equivalent, and eligibility for medical licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• Board certified and eligible for a full-time clinical academic appointment at the University of Toronto (associate or full professor)
• Proficiency in English
• Visa as applicable
• Established surgeon with an international reputation
• Strong administrative and leadership experience; ability to lead within a complex academic department
• Record of peer-reviewed research and leadership in education or other academic pursuits

Diversity and Inclusion

Our Commitment to Diversity

The children and families we care for are diverse, and so are our employees. All are welcome to join our unique organizational culture and be part of our inclusive team.

The University of Toronto and SickKids are strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized person, persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disability, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas.

About SickKids and Toronto

SickKids, located at 555 University Avenue in downtown Toronto, is among the largest children’s hospitals in North America and has a long history of excellence in clinical care, research, and education. It was named the number one paediatric hospital in the world in 2025, by Newsweek magazine. SickKids is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is located adjacent to the University campus and to numerous specialty hospitals and biomedical research institutes. It is an exciting time at SickKids as we execute our campus redevelopment project, including a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital tower.

Toronto is a vibrant and multicultural city and is recognized by the United Nations as the most diverse city in the world, with over half its residents born outside Canada and representation from more than 250 ethnicities. This diversity is reflected in the city’s neighbourhood food scene along with its seventeen Michelin-star restaurants and talents in key sectors like life science, finance, information, and communications technology. It is currently the fourth largest city in North America and boasts a safe, livable, downtown area with excellent housing, schools, and university access. World famous lake and wilderness country and year-round outdoor recreation are easily accessible, as are two hub airports for regional or international travel.

Compensation and Terms

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, we are offering a compensation package that is competitive within North America. The package combines base compensation funded through the Alternate Funding Plan arrangement with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MoHLTC) with additional partial fee-for-service funds. This arrangement values academic contributions and protected time for research. A per annum stipend, in recognition of the administrative leadership responsibilities associated with the Department Chief role, will be provided. Support for relocation expenses will be offered. The position has the potential duration of two terms of five years each.

Application Process

For more information about the University of Toronto Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery please visit us at https://otolaryngology.utoronto.ca/. For more information on the Research Institute please visit us at http://www.sickkids.ca/Research/index.html

The Department recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have influenced their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record. The department further supports an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, Leslie Jones, Executive Assistant, [e-mail].

Contact Information

Application Process

Applications will be accepted until February 1, 2026. Should you be interested in this opportunity, please forward a one-page statement of interest (which includes the names and contact information for 3 referees) and curriculum vitae, in PDF format, via email to:

Dr. Abhaya Kulkarni

Chief, Peri-Operative Services and Chair of the Search Committee

175 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON M5G 2G3

[e-mail]

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Only those applicants selected for the interview will be contacted.