General Practitioner with Special Interest in Addictions and Mental Health

This position is part of Recovery Alberta, supporting our ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services across the province.

 General Practitioner with Special Interest in Addiction & Mental Health

Job Summary:

Recovery Alberta is seeking Family Physicians and Specialists (CCFP, FRCPC or equivalent) who have an interest in Addiction Medicine to join Addiction Services as we grow into one of the largest and most innovative addiction and mental health systems in Canada.

This unique opportunity is designed for physicians at various stages of their careers who are interested in developing expertise in Addiction Medicine. Previous Addiction Medicine training or certification is considered an asset but is not required. Recovery Alberta is committed to supporting physicians through a structured education, mentorship, and clinical development program to build competence and confidence in this rapidly evolving specialty.

Successful candidates will participate in a phased training and onboarding process while working alongside experienced Addiction Medicine physicians across a variety of clinical settings. Physicians will have opportunities to develop skills in opioid agonist treatment (OAT) prescribing, withdrawal management, concurrent disorders, virtual care, inpatient and outpatient addiction services, and recovery-oriented models of care.

This role offers flexibility and the opportunity to work across a broad spectrum of Addiction and Mental Health services. Following completion of onboarding and orientation, medical leadership will work with physicians to identify clinical opportunities that align with interests, experience, geographic preferences, and service needs. Opportunities may include maintaining an existing practice while participating in Addiction Medicine services on a part-time or full-time basis.

Clinical opportunities may include virtual and on-site work settings such as :

·       Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinics

·       Virtual Addiction Medicine Program

·       Adult Addiction and Mental Health Hospitalist Services

·       Concurrent Disorders Units (CDUs)

·       Bed-based addiction treatment and recovery programs

·       Community and inpatient withdrawal management services

·       Rural and urban Addiction and Mental Health programs across Alberta

·       Other emerging addiction services across Alberta

Recovery Alberta is committed to providing evidence-informed, compassionate, and patient-centered care for individuals experiencing substance use and mental health concerns. Physicians joining this program will become part of a collaborative network of clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for Albertans.

Education and Training Program:

Physicians will complete applicable self-directed educational curriculum and clinical rotations designed to provide foundational knowledge in Addiction Medicine and Concurrent Disorders care.

Phase 1: Foundational Learning

The curriculum includes:

• Asynchronous online learning modules
• Recorded lectures and educational sessions
• Assigned physician mentors
• Evidence-informed clinical resources
• Regular educational discussions and case reviews

Topics will span the breadth of Addiction Medicine including:

• Core principles of Addiction Medicine
• Opioid agonist treatment (OAT)
• Withdrawal management
• Concurrent mental health and substance use disorders
• Trauma-informed care
• Virtual care models
• Harm reduction and recovery-oriented practice
• Emerging and innovative treatment approaches

Phase 1 concludes with an online competency-based examination.

Phase 2: Clinical Training and Mentorship

Physicians will participate in supervised clinical rotations and mentorship experiences across Recovery Alberta Addiction Services.

Clinical opportunities may include exposure to:

• Urban, rural and inpatient Addiction Medicine programs
• Outpatient RAAM clinics which manage the full spectrum of addiction care including OAT and Narcotic Transition Service (NTS)
• Concurrent Disorders Units
• Award-winning Virtual Addiction Medicine services
• OAT prescribing and management
• Mental health hospitalist services

During this phase, physicians will receive robust, ongoing mentorship and support from experienced Addiction Medicine physicians and medical leaders.

Compensation will commence during Phase 2 clinical training and will be provided through a combination of Fee-for-Service and Alternative Relationship Plan (ARP) funding models, depending on site and service.

Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

The successful candidate will provide evidence-informed, patient-centred care to individuals experiencing substance use disorders, mental health concerns, and concurrent disorders across a variety of Addiction and Mental Health settings. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the physician will assess, diagnose, and manage patients through outpatient, inpatient, community, and virtual services while supporting recovery-oriented models of care.

Clinical responsibilities may include withdrawal management, opioid agonist treatment (OAT) prescribing and management, treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions, and ongoing addiction care. Physicians will work collaboratively with Addiction Medicine specialists, psychiatrists, nurses, allied health professionals, and operational leaders to ensure safe, integrated, and high-quality care.

This role encompasses the full continuum of Addiction Medicine services across Recovery Alberta. Physicians will work in partnership with medical leadership to identify clinical settings and opportunities that best align with their interests, experience, career goals, and availability. Flexible FTE arrangements are available, allowing physicians to pursue Addiction Medicine on a part-time or full-time basis while maintaining an existing community, hospital, emergency medicine, or specialty practice if desired.

Recovery Alberta is committed to supporting physicians who are new to Addiction Medicine through structured education, mentorship, and clinical training. The successful candidate will participate in ongoing professional development and contribute to quality improvement initiatives while helping advance innovative Addiction and Mental Health services across Alberta.