Jobs

The Government of Yukon is seeking an additional psychiatrist(s) to join both our Outpatient Psychiatry – Adult Services (OPAS) program and to provide inpatient and on-call coverage at Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH).

Our current team consists of four contracted providers, and we are expanding to maintain the existing level of outpatient services while improving work-life balance for all providers. This expansion aims to ensure consistent, high-quality psychiatric care while offering a supportive and manageable work environment for our team. We are also expanding inpatient psychiatric services, thus we are seeking psychiatrists who have an interests in a combination of both inpatient and outpatient work. Of note, inpatient psychiatric work is anticipated to serve both adult and pediatric populations.

Program Description

Outpatient Psychiatry – Adult Services (OPAS)

• OPAS is comprised of an integrated team which provides outpatient adult psychiatric services within the Yukon Government’s Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services (MWSUS).
• Work occurs during regular business hours in downtown Whitehorse within a MWSUS facility.
• A central intake team responds to and triages all referrals.
• Each psychiatrist carries an individual patient load supported by nursing and/or outreach support worker, as available.
• Virtual care for this program will be considered, contingent upon the existence of a reasonable transition plan to in-person care within one year.

Whitehorse General Hospital and On-Call Services

• Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary hospital care team, including mental health unit nursing staff, hospitalists, social workers, and First Nations Health personnel.
• Provide timely psychiatric consultation and appropriate follow-up for admitted patients requiring mental health care.
• Assist with cross-coverage for child psychiatry consultations during periods when child psychiatry services are unavailable.
• Participate in weekday morning rounds to discuss patient care and treatment planning.
• Deliver consult-liaison psychiatric services to medical inpatients within the hospital setting.
• Offer on-call support to community healthcare providers, including physicians and nursing staff, ensuring availability by phone during evenings and nights for urgent psychiatric consultations.
• Occasionally attend the hospital after hours to manage emergent situations within the mental health unit as needed.

Inpatient psychiatry call schedules are typically organized into weekly blocks, ensuring 24/7 coverage throughout the year. To maintain a balance between flexibility and the responsibility of consistent coverage, it is essential for the group to collaboratively self-schedule. This approach enables members to respect individual preferences while meeting the collective obligation of providing continuous, year-round care. The group should prioritize open communication, taking into account factors such as personal availability, workload distribution, and fair rotation to ensure smooth scheduling and equitable call assignments year-round.

For more information about the Whitehorse General Hospital check out the facilities page.

For more information about Whitehorse check out the Communities page.

Contract Details

Remuneration

• Rate = $2,666.03/day (regular weekdays or regular weekends)
• On-Call and services provided after a regular day is billed Fee-for-Service

Benefits

• Benefits are provided through the Yukon Medical Association including
• Recruitment (up to $250,000 over 5 years for recruitment and recruitment into an Acute Care Service)
• Relocation (max $15,000),
• CMPA reimbursement (100%),
• Parental benefit, locum support, CME and others benefits

Shadow Billing

• All contracted physicians are required to shadow bill for services provided, either by paper claim or an electronic format that can be consumed by the claims processing system for Insured Health Services. 

Start date and term

• We are looking for a psychiatrist(s) to start as soon as possible but finding the right candidates is a priority. Start date is negotiable.

Time Commitment

• A blend of inpatient and outpatient needs up to 220 days per year including providing scheduled on-call.

Contract conditions

• Ability to meet the following conditions are contractual requirements and are required in advance of the contract start date.
• Licensure with the Yukon Medical Council
• More information about licensing in Yukon is available here
• Privileging from Yukon Hospital Corporation.
• More information about privileging is available here.

Qualifications

Education and Licensing:

• Eligible for licensure with the Yukon Medical Council
• Eligible for privileging with the Yukon Hospital Corporation
• Certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC Psychiatry), demonstrating comprehensive knowledge and clinical competence in psychiatry.
• Maintain membership with the Canadian Medical Protective Association

Additional training

• Demonstration of the following additional training would be considered an asset
• Candidates with clinical experience in addiction psychiatry or specialized substance use programs
• Candidates with clinical experience in child and youth psychiatry

Expected Skills and Abilities

• Collaborative and committed to working within a multidisciplinary team environment
• Culturally sensitive practice
• Demonstrated leadership in clinical and non-clinical settings
• Experience working in rural, remote, or northern communities is also highly valued, reflecting the unique challenges and diverse clinical presentations encountered in these settings.
• Strong advocacy for equitable access to mental health care, particularly for underserved and marginalized populations, including active engagement in systems-level improvements
• Proven experience supporting primary care providers through consultation, capacity building, and collaborative care approaches, especially in settings with limited specialist access

Selection Process

• The selection process will follow the Tripartite Physician Selection Process. Yukon Government, the Yukon Medical Association and the Yukon Hospital Corporation are the three parties to the process. More information about the selection process is available on the Yukon Medical Association website.

How to Submit your Expression of interest

• Expressions of Interest must contain current curriculum and demonstrate certification in Certification in Psychiatry from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• Expressions of Interest can be submitted to Johanna Smith, Director, Insured Health Review and Strategic Planning at johanna.smith@yukon.ca
• Submitted resumes will be considered starting October 6, 2025 from posting and this posting will remain active until the position is filled.
• This Expression of Interest does not commit the Department of Health and Social Services to award a contract.

More Information

For more information about the Service please contact Dr. Dorothy Kuk at dorothykuk.md@gmail.com.

For more information about the selection process please contact Johanna Smith, Director, Physician Compensation and Medical Affairs at johanna.smith@yukon.ca

For more information about relocation and retention incentives please visit www.yukondocs.ca or contact carly.cox@yukondoctors.ca. 

Apply now