Dr. Megan Landes appointed Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine

The University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) is pleased to announce that Dr. Megan Landes has been appointed as the Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Landes is a staff doctor in the Emergency Department of the University Health Network (UHN), and an Associate Professor and Clinician Investigator at DFCM. She is the founding and current Director of the Global Health Emergency Medicine (GHEM) Centre at the University of Toronto, as well as the founding co-Director of the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine (TAAAC-EM). Since joining DFCM as faculty, she has worked clinically, as an educator and a researcher across diverse settings and populations, including in the GTA, Northern Ontario, Lesotho, Malawi and Ethiopia.

As the new Division Head, Dr. Landes wants to focus on building community across DFCM’s decentralized sites, tri-Divisional partners and hospital departments, as well as on identifying, linking, and celebrating the tremendous work that’s already being done within the Division.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve seen my colleagues in the Division continue to deliver high quality care, teach the next generation of young doctors and engage in research and advocacy for our communities. I believe there is a bright future for this Division as a leading voice in academic emergency medicine,” says Dr. Landes.

Dr. Landes is also passionate about the interrelated issues of physician wellness, and equity, diversity and inclusion – especially in the wake of COVID-19. She hopes to incorporate these core issues as the Division works towards a new Strategic Plan in 2022.

Dr. Landes succeeds Dr. Eric Letovsky as the Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine, who has held the position for the past 18 years.

“It has been an incredible honour and privilege to serve as the Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine at DFCM. I am enormously proud of the entire faculty and their contributions to education, teaching, research and administration. I am deeply appreciative of everyone’s commitment, contributions and support over the past many years,” says Dr. Letovsky. “I am also tremendously excited to turn the keys of the car over to Dr. Megan Landes, a close friend and colleague. Megan will be an inspiring and outstanding leader and I am confident that she will be able to take our division to greater heights and achievements.”

While Dr. Letovsky leaves big shoes to fill, Dr. Landes is confident that the Division can continue the great work that he has begun.

“I would like to thank Dr. Letovsky for his tremendous dedication and commitment to this Division. Under his leadership, this Division has become a national leader in delivering emergency medicine education in our CCFP-EM program, our SEME program, and globally with TAAAC-EM. And he has more than tripled the strength of this Division by growing our faculty to over 340 members during his tenure as Division Head,” says Dr. Landes. “The Division will continue to build upon this record of successes left behind by Dr. Letovsky.”

Dr. Danielle Martin, DFCM Chair, echoes Dr. Landes’ gratitude for Dr. Letovsky’s leadership and achievements: “Dr. Letovsky has built a productive and collegial Division that has raised the profile of academic emergency medicine within DFCM. Countless faculty members and learners owe him a debt of gratitude for his support and guidance throughout their academic careers. I want to thank him on behalf of the department for his tremendous leadership. I look forward to working with Dr. Landes in her new role.”

Dr. Landes will be working with Dr. Letovsky during this transition period, with the official transfer of responsibilities occurring January 1, 2022.