~Sent on behalf of Dr. David Anderson, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Christy Bussey, Central Zone Medical Executive Director, NSH, Dr. Nicole Boutilier, Executive Vice President of Medicine and Clinical Operations, NSH~
We are pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Janice Chisholm as head of the Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine. This reappointment is effective as of July 1, 2025.
A native of Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Dr. Chisholm pursued undergraduate studies in biochemistry at Bishop's University in Quebec before returning to Nova Scotia to complete her MD (Class of 2000) and postgraduate medical training in anesthesiology at Dalhousie. After completing a fellowship in critical care at the University of Pittsburgh, she came back to Dalhousie in 2007 to accept a faculty position in the Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine and Critical Care. Over the years, she held numerous positions in both anesthesia and critical care.
Dr. Chisholm's leadership qualities soon earned her a new role in the Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine as director of its residency training program, from 2010 to 2017. In 2018, she was appointed site chief of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine at the Victoria General Site, as well as the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine's lead for Competence-Based Medical Education (CBME), the new framework for training residents introduced by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.
As department head, Dr. Chisholm has led with vision and resilience, guiding the department through the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining excellence in clinical care, education, research, and operations. She spearheaded the launch of a bold 2022–2027 strategic plan with a focus on patient outcomes, wellness, EDIA, and education. Under her leadership, the department appointed its first medical directors of wellness and EDIA, expanded its clinical footprint through major health system initiatives, and undertook the largest recruitment campaign in its history—welcoming over 30 new clinical faculty since 2022. Dr. Chisholm also enhanced educational programs, strengthened academic collaborations, introduced a robust research accountability framework, and supported patient-centred innovations like the Pain and Addictions Albro Lake clinic. Her tenure has been marked by operational improvements and a deep commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and forward-thinking departmental culture.
Over the next five years, Dr. Chisholm plans to expand residency training, strengthen distributed education in New Brunswick, and grow research capacity through mentorship and infrastructure support. She will continue to advance EDIA and wellness, support clinical modernization through workforce planning and team-based care, and advocate for research, education, and administrative space in major redevelopment projects at NSH and the IWK.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Chisholm on her reappointment.
