Primary Care Physician – Specialized Clinical Refugee Health Team

Vacancy Status: Please note that this posting is for an existing position

Job type: Temporary contract, Full-Time or Part-Time (Until March 2026, with possibility of extension)

Why You’ll Love This Role:

• Work as little as one day per week or up to a full 7-day/week schedule
• Flexible FTE options: from 0.1 FTE to full-time
• Join a dedicated interprofessional team, including RNs providing clinical care support, mental health clinicians, and care navigators, to deliver comprehensive care to refugees in a supportive, collaborative environment
• Opportunity to make a real impact on underserved populations while fitting work around your life.

About WellFort Community Health Services

Vision: A healthier community where everyone belongs.
Mission: High quality, accessible care for all.
Values: Client-Centred • Collaboration • Accountability • Respect • Diversity • Equity

WellFort Community Health Services is a values-based, non-profit, multi-service organization committed to reducing barriers to care and improving the health of our communities. We deliver care through an equity-focused, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach, prioritizing populations who face systemic barriers, including newcomers and refugees, people experiencing homelessness, racialized communities, individuals living with low income, and those with complex mental health, substance use, or chronic conditions.

Program Overview – Refugee Clinic

The Specialized Clinical Refugee Health Team, funded by Ontario Health, provides comprehensive, culturally safe, and trauma-informed primary care and wraparound supports for refugees and refugee claimants with complex health and social needs. Care is delivered primarily through outreach at local hotels where refugees are being housed, in partnership with settlement agencies, public health, and local health providers, and may be complemented by care provided at WellFort’s clinical sites.

Interpretation services are routinely used to reduce language barriers, foster trust, and support high-quality, equitable care.

The clinic operates as a fully integrated, interprofessional team, including RNs who support clinical care, mental health clinicians, and care/case navigators who assist with follow-up, social services, and patient advocacy.

The Opportunity

The Primary Care Physician plays a key clinical and leadership role within the Refugee Clinic, providing comprehensive, community-oriented primary care to refugees and refugee claimants with complex health needs. The Physician works both independently and collaboratively within an interprofessional team to deliver accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care across clinic and outreach settings.

The role emphasizes continuity of care, health promotion, illness prevention, and strategies that support emergency department and hospital admission avoidance through strong community-based care pathways.

Accountability

• Accountable to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and other relevant professional bodies for standards of medical practice.
• Adheres to the policies, procedures, and strategic directions of WellFort Community Health Services.
• Reports to the Senior Director, Population Health, Innovation & Community Programs.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Clinical Care

• Provide comprehensive primary care to refugees and refugee claimants across the lifespan, emphasizing accessibility, continuity of care, health promotion, and disease prevention.
• Deliver care the hotel where refugees are being housed and at WellFort clinical locations and virtual or telephone-based care as appropriate.
• Conduct thorough medical histories, physical examinations, and assessments that integrate the social and economic determinants of health.
• Diagnose and manage acute, chronic, and complex conditions, including infectious diseases, mental health concerns, trauma-related conditions, chronic disease management, women’s and children’s health, and preventive care.
• Collaborate closely with RNs, mental health clinicians, care/case navigators, and other team members through consultation, shared care, and medical directives.
• Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences to support integrated and coordinated care planning.

Health Promotion, Education & Outreach

• Participate in community outreach initiatives, health education sessions, and prevention programs tailored to newcomer and refugee populations.
• Work collaboratively with interprofessional team members and external partners to support culturally responsive health teaching and promotion activities.

Advocacy & Community Development

• Advocate with and on behalf of clients to reduce barriers to accessing health care and social services.
• Contribute to system-level strategies and partnerships that address social determinants of health and improve care pathways for refugees and newcomers.

Administration & Quality Improvement

• Provide clinical leadership and guidance related to medical services within the Refugee Clinic.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR) and compliance with Ministry of Health, WellFort, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, guidelines, and best practices.
• Actively participate in quality improvement initiatives, chart audits, and data-informed practice improvements.

Professional Development

• Maintain professional competence and licensure in accordance with CPSO standards.
• Participate in continuing medical education, reflective practice, and professional learning opportunities.
• Engage in peer review, audit, and quality improvement processes as required.

Research, Teaching & Learning

• Support academic partnerships by supervising and mentoring medical learners and family medicine residents.
• Participate in clinical teaching, student placements, and interprofessional education opportunities.
• Contribute to research initiatives and community-based academic partnerships when opportunities arise.

Contribution to Team & Organization

• Demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.
• Uphold confidentiality, professionalism, and the reputation of WellFort at all times.
• Support WellFort’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-oppressive practice.
• Work in a manner that reflects WellFort’s mission, values, and service delivery approach.

Qualifications

• Member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
• Eligible for and maintains malpractice coverage with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA).
• Demonstrated experience and/or strong interest in working with refugees, newcomers, and populations facing systemic barriers to care.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed care, equity-oriented practice, and the social determinants of health.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt to diverse literacy levels and cultural contexts.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within an interdisciplinary team environment.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records and digital health tools.
• Language skills relevant to the communities served are considered an asset.

Working Conditions

• Work is based at a local Brampton hotel where refugees are housed and may also occur at WellFort clinic sites.
• Exposure to individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, or complex psychosocial challenges.
• Fast-paced environment requiring sound clinical judgment and adaptability.

Additional Requirements

• Satisfactory Police Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, unless exempt under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

APPLY

Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a willingness to participate in WellFort’s commitment to becoming an inclusive, barrier-free health centre and an ability to work in an interdisciplinary team. We encourage applications from individuals who can identify with the diverse communities we serve and invite these candidates to voluntarily share their relevant identities as part of their application.

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No agencies.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, new WellFort staff must be fully compliant with our Vaccination Policy unless they have received an exemption from vaccination under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Proof of vaccination status will be required before the first day of work or, proof of religious or medical exemption, if or where applicable.

As part of WellFort’s hiring process, we use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in screening and evaluating applications. All final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team.