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Department of Psychiatry

Welcome to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa takes pride in providing excellence in mental health care, training and research.

Our vision, mission and values

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Our Vision

Healing Minds Through Learning & Science
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Our Mission

Our faculty works to improve the lives and health of our communities at home and abroad through innovative education, research that impacts patients, social justice, and compassionate, effective care.
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Our Values

Mental Health Matters: Collaboration, Innovation and Excellence for Everyone.

Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. We are a large faculty of nearly 300 people spread across five different hospitals, five research institutes and individuals working in the community. The mandate of the Department is to advance the academic mission of the University of Ottawa with a focus on research and teaching. Because we are a large department, we have a range of research programs encompassing functional brain imaging, psychopharmacology, mortality in mood disorders, systematic review science, forensic psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry and trauma, suicide prevention and clinical trials in underserved populations. We provide a wide range of teaching at undergraduate and post graduate levels including our resident program, which with about 65 residents, is the third largest in the Faculty of Medicine.

As well as a focus on research and teaching because of our location in the nation’s capital we aim to be involved in policy making and being good at working with policy makers. We aim to improve our relationship with the indigenous people of the area and are developing actions and policies around this as well as equity, diversity and inclusiveness.

In many ways psychiatry is at a cross roads with one route reducing the speciality to a prescriber of a few psychotropic medications and giving up our roles in other areas such as psychotherapy or cognitive assessments;  on the other hand another route lies in being the specialty that integrates what we know about the impact of biology, psychology and social forces on feelings, behaviour and physiology and using this integrated knowledge for the benefit of patients who seek our help. New and critical thinking to address these challenges is welcomed and encouraged in our Department. Enjoy your time with us.

Dr. Simon Hatcher
Interim Chair Department of Psychiatry

Dr Simon Hatcher
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  • 230 faculty members
  • 50 plus graduate students are supersized by our members
  • Average of 60 resident in our General Psychiatry training Program
  • We offer specialty training PGY 6 positions in Geriatrics, Forensic and Child and Adolescents Psychiatry
  • Grants and Publications have increased by 50% in the last year
  • We present awards each year to recognize excellence in teaching and education
  • In the last two year combined with have over 200 peer-reviewed papers published, over 9million research dollars brought in and members received a record 84 funding grants

Awards and Recognitions

  • Dr. Mamta Gautam
    2019 May Cohen Award for Women Mentors, Canadian Medical Association
  • Dr. Sanjay Rao
    Fellow of the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies
  • Dr. J. Paul Fedoroff
    Innovator of the Year, Ottawa Police Service’s 2018 Crime Prevention Ottawa Awards
  • Dr. Katherine Allen
    Faculty of Medicine Educator Award for Collaborator Competency
  • Dr. Wendy Spettigue
    2019 Prix d’Excellence – Specialist of the Year Award
  • Dr. Khalid Bazaid
    Excellence in Education Award - CACAP
  • Debbie Hall
    PGME Program Administrator Award of Excellence
    PGME Program Administrator's Leader Competency Award
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Resources

Canadian Mental Health Association
Looking for Mental Health Help?
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada

Career Opportunities

There are no openings at this time. Please check back again in the future.

News

All News
  • Department of Psychiatry Annual Research Day Date: Wednesday, November 22, 2023, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    The department's annual Research Day will be hosted virtually by the University of Ottawa Department of Psychiatry. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations will be due October 27th, 2023. Registration and abstract submission details to come. View the Research Day flyer.
  • Medical Education Fellowship and Course Opportunities

    The Medical Education Fellowship program is open to all department members. The fellowship is a 50% time commitment; the other 50% time in either a clinical fellowship or working to fund the year. The program has a representative from psychiatry on the fellowship committee, Dr. Susmita Chandramouleeshwaran.

    There is also a course (HESP, Healthcare education scholars program) – running Tuesday am from September to May – and covers basic principles of education (the Department of Medicine suggests for all Program Directors or those involved in education). The deadline has passed, but members could make this a consideration for next year. It is a great way for clinicians to get some training in education without a significant time commitment. 

    2023 - 2024 Fellowship Call and Application
    HESP - Application Form 2023-2024

    Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto.
  • Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Conference: October 18-21, 2023 - Vancouver. BC

    The annual conference is a key opportunity to explore new perspectives, reconnect with colleagues and learn from the passions of others in the field of psychiatry.

    More than 1,000 psychiatrists, psychiatric trainees, and other health-care professionals will be in Vancouver to discover the latest breakthroughs in clinical practice and research, learn about new policy initiatives, gain competencies vital to modern psychiatric practice, and be inspired to create lasting positive changes in mental health.

    CPA Annual Conference Promotional Sheet

  • Honours and Awards
    Posted on Tuesday, November 1, 2022
    Dr. Elliott Lee won the ACPC award (Award for Excellence in Education with the Association of Chairs of Psychiatry).

  • Follow us on Twitter

    Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2021
    The Department of Psychiatry has joined Twitter. Follow the Department on Twitter for the latest news and achievements from our amazing community and beyond. We are aiming to tweet every publication, award and teaching highlight from the Department. Follow us and tell a friend at @uOPsychiatry.