About the Opportunity

St. Martha's Regional Hospital, in Antigonish, NS, is seeking a full-time plastic surgeon to join the surgical department. The service currently manages pathology of the hand, breast, head and neck, facial trauma, skin including melanoma, chronic wounds, minor burns, other. Some aesthetic surgery is possible. An interest in general reconstruction is an asset. OR and ambulatory clinic time is available, as is office space attached to the hospital with administrative support. Affiliation with Dalhousie University with an option to participate in research and surgical education at the undergraduate and postgraduate level is possible.

SMRH is a regional acute care facility, strategically located half way between Halifax and Sydney, providing a wide range of primary and secondary inpatient and outpatient services, and satellite clinics. More than 60 physicians practice at SMRH in a variety of specialties and sub-specialties. Physician turnover rates are low. St. Martha's serves a local population of 45,000 from Antigonish and surrounding communities, but the plastic surgery service draws upon all of northeastern Nova Scotia, which has a population of about 210,000 from New Glasgow eastward. There is a large network of referring physicians in the region and a well-established referral base. There is strong and collegial support from the tertiary-based plastic surgery service in Halifax, 2 hours away. SMRH has an extremely efficient and friendly OR and anesthesia staff who make working here a pleasure. SMRH is leading the way in Nova Scotia in greening its OR operations, trying to reduce and recycle OR waste.

With approximately 90 beds for in-patient care, St. Martha's offers:

• anesthesia
• emergency medicine
• family medicine 
• general surgery
• geriatrics
• hospitalists
• internal medicine (general and sub-specialty who cover the 6 bed ICU)
• obstetrics/gynecology
• ophthalmology
• otolaryngology
• palliative care
• pediatrics
• psychiatry
• radiology (U/S, CT, MRI, ECHO)
• visiting oncology and neurology 

Community based care is further supported by a men's and women's health centre, chronic pain clinic, methadone clinic, walk-in clinic, and youth clinic at the local high school. Physicians and staff at St. Martha's take great pride in working to provide high quality care to our patients and place strong value in collegiality in the workplace. We have the most active cross-specialty, accredited CME program in the province and host regular medical staff social events. SMRH is also proud to have a strong arts-health program.

Responsibilities

Duties include full scope of practice as a plastic surgeon providing care to patients within the eastern zone and participating in call.

The physician will be responsible to the Zone Department Head of Surgery for their professional responsibilities and quality of practice, and will operate within the Medical Staff Bylaws of the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

Expected Hours

• full-time

Qualifications

• eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS)
• eligible for certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
• membership with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)

Community Details

The Town of Antigonish is a family-friendly, creative, university community where the hospital is an easy walk or cycle away from the town centre. Housing is affordable. The commute to work can be so easy, with minimal traffic and no congestion. The County of Antigonish, surrounding the town, boasts spectacular natural beauty, and also has a wide range of affordable housing. An agricultural base results in a wonderful farmers' market and easy access to local foods, while fishers offer their catch at several wharves and community locations.

In winter you can easily ski or snow shoe on local trails or at the golf course, with groomed trails. Indoor community recreational sports, including hockey, curling, skating, volleyball, and racquet sports (yes, we have pickleball!) are also available. There are three ice surfaces and two artificial turf fields in town. In summer, swimming, kayaking, and sailing in the Northumberland Strait, the mildest ocean water north of Washington, DC, is irresistible! A university-based rowing club on a local lake offers community lessons. There are numerous local public beaches and swimming holes, spectacular hiking trails, an 18-hole golf course, a boating club, great fishing spots, tennis courts, cycling on little-trafficked back roads and a racetrack. There is mountain biking and disc golf on Keppoch Mountain and a newly organize Kan Jam league. You'll be surprised at how few people are in the midst of such immense natural beauty!

You'll also find a wide range of fitness and sports programs for all ages, often mentored by local university athletes and coaches. In addition to traditional gyms, a new crossfit gym has recently opened its doors. The local St. Francis Xavier University has superb recreational facilities, with a gym, rinks, a track, courts, and a 25 metre pool, all within the town. St. FX also hosts an impressive lineup of guest speakers, films, arts, music, and theatre events throughout the year, all open to the community.

Antigonish boasts a vibrant arts and culture community where theatre, documentary films, concerts, readings, lecture, visual arts, and arts fairs, abounds. There is ample opportunity to participate, with community choirs and community theatre productions. This strong creative community has partnered with folks in health care and education to create the first community-based arts-health initiative in Canada. An award-winning library serves as a flourishing community gathering space. There is always lots going on in our well-engaged community - the challenge is deciding where to be!

French-language schools and Acadian, Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotia communities are near town. Antigonish's growing community of newcomers is bringing welcome diversity to a historically Scottish region, contributing to a burgeoning celebration of ethnic culture and food. Antigonish is home to the famous "Peace by Chocolate", owned by a family of Syrian entrepreneurs and peace ambassadors. Day and residential programs integrate individuals with diverse abilities into community activities through L'Arche Antigonish. Two new retirement residences have recently opened. A wide range of service organizations and activist coalitions will welcome you as a volunteer. Halifax, Cape Breton, New Brunswick, PEI, and numerous festivals are accessible for weekend or day trips. The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is a 1-hour, 45-minute drive away.

To learn more about St. Martha's Regional Hospital view the video below from the staff and physicians who work at St. Martha's: St. Martha's Regional Hospital