Lung Health Foundation Job Board
Medical Director, Primary Care Asthma & COPD Program (PCAP) (Volunteer)
Description
Position: Medical Director, Primary Care Asthma & COPD Program (PCAP) (Volunteer)
Reports To: Vice President, Programs, Public Affairs & Research, Lung Health Foundation
Commitment: Approximately 2 hours per month. Two-year term, with potential for renewal based on needs and mutual interest. This is a volunteer, part-time advisory role (non-remunerated; reasonable expenses may be reimbursed according to Lung Health Foundation policy, if applicable).
Location: Ontario (provincial scope); remote, with occasional in-person meetings as required. ____________________________________________________________________
Imagine a future where people living with lung cancer have a fighting chance, where no one loses a loved one to asthma, where people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) live their lives to the fullest, where older adults don’t lose their independence in life, and where future generations don’t suffer the debilitating effects of lung disease. The Lung Health Foundation is committed to making this future a reality. And this new future starts now.
The Lung Health Foundation’s mission is to improve the lung health of Canadians, and we will achieve this through:
● Groundbreaking research;
● Policy and practice change;
● Urgently needed programs and support; and
● Public education around lung health issues.
And at the heart of it all? Helping those who have been impacted by lung disease.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Imagine a future where every person in Ontario with asthma or COPD can count on timely, high-quality, evidence-based care, and where primary care teams are fully supported to deliver it. As Medical Director for the Primary Care Asthma & COPD Program (PCAP), you will help make that future a reality by bringing your clinical leadership, systems perspective, and passion for respiratory care to a provincial program with real-world impact.
The PCAP is an evidence-based education and chronic disease management program that empowers primary care providers to deliver high-quality, guideline-based care for patients with asthma and COPD. It is aligned with the latest Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) guidelines and has been successfully implemented in twelve sites across Ontario.
PCAP integrates respiratory educators into primary care teams, enabling patients with asthma or COPD to receive guideline-based assessments, action plans, and self-management education. The model’s wide adoption across Ontario has demonstrated its scalability and impact on patient outcomes, healthcare utilization, and provider confidence. By embedding best practices into primary care, PCAP helps improve patient outcomes, reduce avoidable health system use, and support more consistent, high-quality respiratory care across Ontario.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Medical Director, PCAP provides clinical leadership to ensure PCAP remains grounded in the best available evidence and aligned with Ministry of Health priorities, Lung Health Foundation strategic directions, and leading practices in chronic disease prevention and management. The role strengthens PCAP’s clinical integrity, quality, and long-term sustainability, and serves as a key clinical resource to Ontario’s respiratory health community.
The Medical Director also serves as Co-Chair of the PCAP Advisory Committee, ensuring coherence between clinical direction and Committee advice.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Clinical Leadership and Evidence Oversight
- Provide advisory clinical leadership across all PCAP sites to support alignment with current asthma and COPD guidelines and evidence-based best practices.
- Provide clinical expertise to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of PCAP program components, tools, and resources.
- Advise on the adoption and refinement of standardized PCAP tools, protocols, and care pathways to support consistent, high-quality care.
- Identify emerging evidence, guideline updates, and practice gaps, and recommend adaptations to PCAP tools, indicators, and processes.
2. Governance and Advisory Functions
- Serve as Co-Chair of the PCAP Advisory Committee, including agenda development and priority setting for advisory discussions.
- Help ensure PCAP Advisory Committee discussions and recommendations remain clinically relevant, evidence-informed, and aligned with system priorities and Ministry of Health expectations.
- Participate in Advisory Committee and relevant sub-committee meetings, providing clinical advice to support program implementation, sustainability, and quality improvement.
- Advise on integration and alignment of PCAP with related provincial health initiatives, pathways, and standards.
3. Quality Improvement and Evaluation
- Provide recommendations to support continuous quality improvement and accountability.
- Advise on and, where appropriate, contribute to evaluation, research, and knowledge translation activities related to asthma and COPD management in primary care.
4. Stakeholder Engagement and Clinical Representation
- Serve as a key clinical advisor and representative for PCAP at provincial and as appropriate, national forums, meetings, and conferences.
- Build and maintain relationships with clinical leaders, primary care teams, provincial agencies, patient and caregiver representatives, and other stakeholders to support PCAP’s reach and impact.
- Provide expert input into the development and refinement of educational tools, clinical resources, and training modules for healthcare providers participating in PCAP.
- Support communication of key PCAP achievements, lessons learned, and innovations to internal and external stakeholders.
5. Collaboration with the Lung Health Foundation
- Work collaboratively with Lung Health Foundation staff to ensure clinical advice is aligned with organizational strategies and operational plans.
- Provide expert, evidence-informed input into PCAP priorities, workplans, and resource development, ensuring clinical appropriateness and feasibility.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
- Medical Degree (MD) with specialization in respirology or family medicine.
- Current registration and good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
- Demonstrated expertise in asthma and COPD care, including guideline-based assessment, diagnosis, and management in primary care.
- Experience and expertise in clinical leadership, health system quality improvement, and/or program governance.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively across disciplines, sectors, and settings.
Assets
- Experience with provincial or regional advisory or steering committees.
- Familiarity with implementation science and quality improvement methodologies used in primary care.
WHY VOLUNTEER WITH US?
- Make a meaningful impact on asthma and COPD care in primary care settings across Ontario, helping more people breathe easier and avoid preventable complications of lung disease.
- Collaborate with a passionate, interdisciplinary community of healthcare leaders, patient partners, and system stakeholders, building your network at provincial and national levels.
- Strengthen your leadership profile through high-impact committee work, quality improvement and advisory experience.
- Shape influential clinical tools, educational resources, and knowledge translation initiatives.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae outlining their clinical experience in asthma and COPD care, leadership experience, and interest in the Medical Director role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
The Lung Health Foundation is committed to providing a barrier-free work environment in concert with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. As such, we will make accommodations available to applicants with disabilities upon request during the recruitment process.
The Lung Health Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, colour, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the province where we operate. At the Lung Health Foundation, we value the insights and innovation that diverse and inclusive teams bring to work.