Alberta Health Services (AHS) invites applications for the position of Medical Director, Southern Tissue Program Medical Director under the Calgary Zone Medical Affairs Portfolio. 

In a competent and professional manner, the Contractor will:

I. Leadership

1.  Be responsible for the medical aspects of the Southern Alberta Tissue Program (SATP), the Southern Alberta non-ocular tissue donation branch of the Alberta Organ & Tissue Donation Program (AOTDP) of AHS. 

2. Liaise with the Southern Alberta manager of the AOTDP and the clinical leaders and quality assurance coordinator of the SATP in ensuring the efficient operation of the donation, procurement, assessment, processing, banking, and release processes for non-ocular tissues.

3. Delegate responsibilities appropriately, in accordance with standard operating procedures.  To provide supervision and support for tasks that are delegated.

4. Participate as a member of AOTDP Provincial Donation Steering Committee in providing advice and consultation on strategic and policy matters.

5. Participate in national and provincial initiatives, mandates and/or advisory committees as required.

6. Liaise with the Medical Directors of AHS ocular tissue program(s) in the development, operation and coordination of a comprehensive regional tissue donation process. 

II. Oversight of Tissue Recovery & Allocation

7. Be available to provide medical advice to the SATP team related to donor suitability and tissue retrieval. 

8.  Review the clinical, laboratory and microbiologic data for all non-ocular tissue donation cases and imported tissue to assure the safety of tissues for transplantation with respect to current Health Canada, Canadian Standards Association (CSA), and American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) standards for tissue banking. 

9. Medically approve the release of non-ocular tissues for transplantation;  to approve the exceptional release of tissue for transplantation in conjunction with the transplanting surgeons; and to approve the release of tissues for research.

10. Notify appropriate parties of confirmed positive results of infectious disease testing and ensure that procedures for quarantining or recall of tissue products are followed.

III. Quality Assurance

11. Maintain knowledge of the current standards of Health Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), and other relevant national and provincial standards relative to tissue donation. 

12. Respond in collaboration with the Southern Alberta Director and Medical Director, as well as the provincial leadership, of the AOTDP to concerns or complaints regarding the quality of care provided by the SATP.

13. Participate as a member of regional tissue quality assurance committees, including tissue product users groups. 

14.  Develop, monitor and select standards of infection control and pathogen testing in conjunction with the regional and provincial microbiology laboratories. 

15. Ensure the SATP operates in compliance with relevant provincial, national, and international regulatory agencies, including the AATB. 

16. Ensure audits of performance, documentation, and tissue handling are completed and processes for improvement are established.  Provides direction for quality improvement activities in recovery technique and tissue handling. 

17. Notify donor or next-of-kin of all confirmed positive reportable disease test results in collaboration with the Medical Officer of Health

IV. Policy and Procedures

18. Review, approve, revise, and implement the medical nature/components of all SATP standard operating policies, procedures and protocols.  In collaboration with the Northern Alberta Tissue Program Medical Director, and the provincial leadership of the AOTDP, to assist in harmonizing policies and procedures across the province. 

19. Establish policies and procedures regarding adverse outcomes and direct potential adverse outcome investigations.  Reviews and approves all final summary reports regarding adverse outcomes. 

V. Other

21. To attend American Academy of Tissue Banks (AATB) scientific meetings no less than once every three (3) years as required by AATB standards and obtain 15 AATB-approved continuing education credits every three (3) years.