Description
The Office of Postgraduate Medical Education in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Wellness Advisor. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 24 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
This position is located at the Foothills Campus at the U of C. This position normally works 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday. There may be occasional need to work outside of regular hours. This position is expected to work primarily from the office.
The Office of Resident Affairs and Physician Wellness (ORAPW) operates at arms-length from PGME. It supports the physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing of PGME Trainees (Medical Residents and Fellows). It offers 1-on-1 confidential services, develops and delivers wellness-related programming and resources, provides guidance to PGME Leadership in support of Trainee Wellness, and administers the Medical Learner Accommodations Process.
Reporting to the Manager, Resident Affairs and Physician Wellness, the Wellness Advisor applies specialized skills and knowledge regarding existing and new policies and procedures for U of C, CSM, AHS, Professional Association of Resident physicians of Alberta (PARA), College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), Alberta Medical Association (AMA), Alberta Human Rights Commission, and other relevant organizations in support of Medical Resident and Fellow wellbeing.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Accommodation Advising and Provision
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Assesses Trainee accommodation requests, self-reports, and relevant supporting documentation
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Seeks pertinent information from the Accommodations Therapist, the Trainee's Residency or Fellowship Program, Legal Counsel, and AHS (where required) with respect to the Trainee's accommodation request, bona fide requirements of the Program, and any other relevant considerations
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Meets with Trainees to discuss accommodation requests, relevant Protected Grounds, and barriers and functional limitations regarding their current or expected educational experiences at UCalgary
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Uses an intersectional and trauma-informed practice to balance students self-reports with formal documentation
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Determines reasonable academic accommodations, accounting for the trainee's functional limitations and the nature of their program of study
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Completes contact notes, Accommodation Letters, Accommodation Plans and other internal paperwork accurately and in a timely manner
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Maintains appropriate case notes and files, ensuring file entries comply with U of C internal policies and POPA requirements
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Collaborates with Residency and Fellowship Program Leadership to support operationalization of approved Accommodation Plans
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Works as part of a team of advisors by collaborating, consulting and debriefing on cases and situations
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Continually reflects and develops their practice through professional development such case consults.
Accommodation Process Management
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Schedules regular Accommodation Assessment Committee meetings, shares files for review taking into account conflict of interest disclosures, ensures accurate meeting notes, provides updates on files as required
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Collaborates with PGME Learning Education Resource Support (LERS) Team regarding files for accommodations and learning support, remediation, or probation plans
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Shares information with relevant Teams (LERS, PGME Registration, Legal Counsel, AHS, Medical Education Office) as required for implementation of granted accommodations
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Documents the Accommodation Process, updates key documents and templates for clear and prompt execution of the process
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Develops and maintains a SharePoint site for access
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Develops and maintains a tracking mechanism to ensure files are up to date
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Ensures the accommodations process aligns with the Medical Learner Accommodation Process Operating Standard
System Navigation
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Provides integrated support for trainees who are navigating several systems and processes within the University, collaborating with resources and offices across campus
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Advises trainees on Accommodation Process steps, administrative requirements, supporting documentation, and available supports
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Provides guidance to Residency and Fellowship Program Leadership with respect to Accommodation Process Steps, available resources, how to support trainees needing or seeking accommodations
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Liaises with Accommodations Therapist, LERS, PGME Registration, AHS, MEO, Legal Services, and other key stakeholders to ensure smooth and timely implementation of accommodation plans
Programming, Reporting, and Outreach
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Identifies gaps and opportunities in programming and resources in support of Trainee wellness
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Provides leadership, guidance, and training regarding wellness initiatives, processes, supports, and resources
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Provides expertise in the development of new wellness initiatives and process improvements of existing programming
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Supports drafting of grant reports, analysis of demographic and other data to support service provisions
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Supports the continuous evaluation of the ORAPW, including creating and managing various sources of evaluation involvement (e.g. surveys, focus groups)
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Represents ORAPW at various groups and committees, both on-campus and nationally
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Acts as a key contact for Trainees and Program Leadership
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Serves as an internal resource for PGME staff regarding accommodations and other wellness programs
Proactively seeks opportunities to provide education regarding accessibility, accommodations, and other wellness initiatives
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Qualifications / Requirements:
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Masters degree in Psychology, Social Work, Education or related discipline
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5 years of experience working with accommodations preferably in a post-secondary setting
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Knowledge of legal issues related to the Duty to Accommodate persons experiencing barriers with respect to a Protected Ground in an educational setting; including identifying bona-fide educational requirements and the limits of undue hardship
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Ability to discuss trauma-informed practices and how discrimination and historical practices create barriers to medical documentation of disability
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Ability to determine how functional limitations of disabilities and medical conditions impact Trainees and learning in postgraduate medical education (pgme) and clinical settings
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Ability to perform a wide range of duties, often in parallel, and must be able to exercise good judgment in setting priorities and balancing deadlines, ability to deal with frequent distractions and unexpected events
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Strong conflict management and mediation skills, including working with individuals in different positions of power
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Demonstrates a strong regard for issues of confidentiality and dealing with highly sensitive material in a standardized format
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Demonstrates the ability to work effectively with multiple colleagues, departments, organizations and people in sensitive and complex situations
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Experience in postgraduate medical education and understanding of Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) is preferred
Application Deadline: September 17, 2026
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.