Image of a red stethoscope in the shape of a heart

Faculty Wellness Program

The University of Ottawa founded Canada’s first Faculty Wellness Program (FWP). Under the directorship of Mamta Gautam, MD, FRCPC from 2000 - 2002, the program provided educational seminars, developed a web page, and helped hundreds of faculty members access health services.

At the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, the well-being of all members of our Faculty continues to be of the highest priority.

The Faculty Wellness Program Serves:

  • Graduate Students
  • PharmD Students
  • TMM Students
  • Post Docs
  • Residents
  • Clinical Fellows
  • Faculty Members

What We Can Offer To You?

Individual support: 

  • Confidential individual counselling/psychotherapy
  • Individual wellness support for Faculty members
  • Referrals to health care providers, counsellors/psychologists, and coaching
  • Accommodation support (Residents)

Education and programs:

  • Workshops and educational sessions on Wellness shaped to suit the need of your group, program, or department
  • Support to build and advance wellness in the curriculum of your program 

Up-to-date online resources

About Us

Dr. Lau, Associate Professor is a graduate of the University of Ottawa, Masters Program and Medical School. He completed his residency in psychiatry and fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. As a former Undergraduate and Postgraduate Program Director for the Department of Psychiatry, he has experience in managing education at the undergraduate and postgraduate level of medicine. As well Dr. Lau is a proud member of the Distinguished Teacher Program at the Faculty of Medicine, where he spent 2 years focused on improving his teaching skills with clinicians from other departments of medicine. He was on the examination board for many years and has chaired committees for psychiatry at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is currently the Director of Joy at Work for the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine and is starting a position as the Vice Chair for the Department of Psychiatry. He is the past president of the medical staff at the Royal and a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Royal. He is the Clinical Director of Informatics (interim) at the Royal and the Clinical Lead of the Geriatric Psychiatry inpatient unit at the Royal. He has won awards locally and nationally for recognition of teaching, mentorship, advocacy, and leadership in Wellness. 

He has previously coordinated psychiatric education in Canada at 17 medical schools for years and has an interest in spirituality. He is the Founder and Past President of the Canadian Federation of Catholic Physicians and Societies and the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Maryvale Academy. He is an advocate for mental health and drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, husband, and father of 6, is sought-after speaker in the area of Happiness and parenting for which he has given talks across the country and beyond.

Headshot of Dr. Tim Lau

Dr. Rishi Kapur is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who is passionate about medical education and learner wellness.  He believes building healthy and sustainable clinicians starts early in medical education.  He completed his medical training in Toronto, Victoria and Vancouver and has practiced in both Vancouver and Ottawa.  He enjoys telepsychiatry and has worked in various settings including gender diversity, eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders and outpatient mental health.  He is particularly drawn to psychotherapy with older adolescents.  In his spare time he enjoys yoga, cycling and instrumental music.

Image of Dr. Rishi Kapur

Cynthia is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and has worked in the mental health field for over 10 years. She received her Masters in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy at Dublin Business School in Ireland where she lived and worked. Her work encompasses humanistic, psychodynamic, existential and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy taking into account the physical, psychological and emotional needs of the clients as well as their resources and strengths. Previous work has focused on marginalised populations and trauma and addiction. In the last few years, she has turned her attention to helping students in third level education navigate this often challenging and fundamental period of their lives. She feels passionate about her work and is committed to working with her clients to reach their goals.

The following are some of the challenges she provides support for :

  • Mood: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Anger, Self-Esteem, Loneliness
  • Relationships (personal and professional): Conflict, Abuse, Emotional Regulation, Infidelity, Assertiveness, Intimacy, Gender and Sexual Identity
  • Life Transitions: Grief and Loss, Separation, Parenting, Leaving Home
  • Trauma: Childhood, PTSD, Bullying, Harassment, Pain Management, Sexual Abuse
  • Stress: Stress Management, Work/Life Integration, Workplace Burnout, Learning to Relax

Click here to book an appointment with Cynthia

Image of Ms. Cynthia Abraham

Monica Dobie is an experienced counsellor who has worked for over 10 years at UOttawa, St-Paul University and at Maison Fraternité, a residential treatment centre for addiction in Vanier. She is a registered member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and holds a Masters’ degree in Counselling and Spirituality from St-Paul University.

Monica enjoys travelling, hiking, eating out and socializing with her friends and family, as well as spending quality time with her trusted West Highland Terrier, Piper.  She also appreciates live music, theatre and stand-up comedy.

Click here to book an appointment with Monica

Image of Ms. Monica Dobie

Forms

The Functional abilities form (FAF) is used as a tool to facilitate the collection of information of residents or clinical fellows who may require a medical accommodation. The FAF must be completed by the health professional who is treating the trainee and actively involved in their care.

Please return the completed form via LiquidFiles to [email protected] to schedule an appointment with our Director of Learner Wellness, Dr. Rishi Kapur.

Medical Certificate and Functional Abilities Form (pdf, 430.61 KB)

The referral form is designed for Faculty members in supervisory roles to refer learners to the FWP. Please return the completed form via LiquidFile to [email protected]

We encourage all learners who wish to meet with a clinical counsellors to self-refer by contacting the Faculty Wellness Program.

Faculty Wellness Program Referral Form (pdf, 193.85 KB)

COVID-19 Alert

The Faculty Wellness Program (FWP) will be working remotely until further notice pending further directives. Should you wish to reach a member of the FWP, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for your cooperation and your understanding.

These are unprecedented times and many are experiencing heightenent anxiety and stress, especially phsycians and health care providers. There are lots of support and resources for health providers and we'd like to highlight some.