I am the first program director of the enhanced skills addiction medicine training program at the University of Ottawa. Prior to starting this role, I advocated for the funding and creation of this program and led a working group of addiction medicine physicians in the preparatory work prior to our first resident. My work has included designing rotations, creating new learning objectives for all rotations, an evaluation structure, program map, competency framework and partnering with other addiction medicine programs across Canada. I have also developed the application package evaluation matrix and interview tools in addition to populating a RPC committee and developing terms of reference.

AccessMHA creates a single point of entry to eastern Ontario’s system of care for mental health and addictions providing equitable access to all people and supporters who need mental health and/or substance use/addiction services across the Champlain region. AccessMHA is the result of consultation and collaboration with many partners, including primary care providers, hospitals, community service providers, system stakeholders and, most importantly, people with lived expertise.As primary care lead for regional coordinated access for mental health and addictions, I have played a key role in design of the conception model of Regional Coordinated Access (October 2018-March 2019), development of the RCA implementation plan (August 2019-August 2020), launch of the digitally enabled RCA branded as AccessMHA (October 2020-March 2021) and provincial spread of the model (December 2021-present).

Working in the Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders Program (SUCD) at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, I provide care to individuals with complex substance use disorders, moderate to severe mental health disorders, physical health issues and psychosocial vulnerabilities. My clinical care work includes outpatient withdrawal management, opioid agonist therapy, mental health and physical health care, and care to frontline workers including acting as an addiction medicine monitor to physicians and nurses as required by their perspective colleges. I also provide consultation to community primary care practitioners, inpatient hospital consults to other mental health programs, consultation to other SUCD team members, and liaise/coordinate with other community providers and agencies.

In my role as Clinical Director of the SUCD program, I have provided leadership to collaboratively conceptualize, develop, implement and evaluate novel models of care in order to improve treatment access, uptake, and outcomes for marginalized populations who struggle with mental health and substance use co-morbidities. This includes: (1) an innovative regional, hub and spoke model of care for prescription opioid addiction and mental health disorders targeting early intervention (Regional Opioid Intervention Service), (2) a rapid access model of care for alcohol and opioid use problems (Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic formerly Alcohol Medical Intervention Clinic), (3) an evidence based flexible concurrent disorders (substance use, mental health, physical health) residential service, (4) an evidence based flexible concurrent disorders day program, (5) a virtual concurrent disorders day program with funded community partner sites, (6) a transitional aged youth concurrent disorders outpatient service to provide outpatient care for individuals with moderated to severe substance use, mental health and psychosocial issues, (7) a digital health innovation to increase access to care “Digital Front Door” to RAAM. Integration of program evaluation/research into care has resulted in securing permanent funding for these novel services.

Founded in 1988, The Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine is a national society of medical professionals and scientists committed to helping Canadians understand and recover from substance use disorders. During my term of leadership, we redeveloped our mission, vision and strategic directions listed above. We expanded our membership, developed a new website, launched a journal club, relaunched the CSAM newsletter, expanded the profile of our journal (Canadian Journal of Addiction) and held our first virtual conference during the COVID pandemic.