JOEL KAILIA
Vancouver,BC
Summary
Physician Leader with 15+ years of progressive experience in Family Medicine, specializing in Addictions, and Complex Chronic Pain Management. Proven success in clinical governance, establishing, and directing five multidisciplinary clinics focused on Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT), mental health integration, and innovative care delivery. Highly effective in leading clinical teams, setting operational standards, and driving significant improvements in patient outcomes and quality of life.
Competent family physician with extensive experience in leading medical teams and developing patient care protocols. Successfully managed multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and streamline clinical operations. Demonstrated strategic planning and leadership skills in high-pressure environments.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Medical Director
Ankors (Opioid Replacement Therapy Clinic)
01.2016 - Current
- Provided medical leadership for an Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT) program, increasing its patient capacity by 25% while maintaining strict safety and governance standards.
- Collaborated with community services and mental health support teams to offer comprehensive, integrated addiction care.
Medical Director
RISE BC Wellness Centre
2008 - Current
- Established and directed a specialized family medicine and chronic pain clinic, focusing on multimodal, evidence-based non-opioid treatments.
- Developed and standardized new clinical protocols for complex pain patient intake, ensuring comprehensive diagnostic workups and improved follow-up continuity.
- Managed a multidisciplinary team including kinesiologist, occupational therapists, counselors, and nurses, integrating holistic care plans.
Medical Director
Together We Can Recovery Centre
2018 - 03.2025
- Delivered comprehensive care focusing on the critical intersection of family medicine, addictions medicine, and mental health in a structured recovery environment.
- Managed complex patient cases involving co-morbid substance use disorders and severe mental health challenges.
- Managed a team of mental health workers including physicians, nurses, outreach workers, and peer support workers
Medical Director
Empower Health
2018 - 2025
- Pioneered the integration of family medicine with specialized pain medicine and exploratory psychedelic medicine treatment pathways.
- Defined clinical pathways for the safe and regulated delivery of innovative therapies, setting precedents for clinical governance in emerging fields.
- Worked in a multi disciplinary team of health care workers.
Medical Director
Community First Medical Clinic
2008 - 2017
- Oversaw all clinical and operational standards for a busy, full-service family practice, serving an active patient panel of over 4,500 individuals.
- Led staff in the successful transition and implementation of a new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, improving data integrity and clinical workflow efficiency by 15%.
- Maintained continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives focused on preventative care and chronic disease management.
Education
Chronic Pain Management
University of Alberta
Edmonton01-2017
Family Medicine Residency - Family Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC01-2004
M.D. -
University of Toronto
07-2002
Master of Science - Neuroscience
University of Toronto
01-1998
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
McGill University
01-1995
Skills
- Clinical Leadership: Clinical Governance, Policy Development, Interdisciplinary Team Management, Staff Mentorship
- Specialty Expertise: Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT), Complex Chronic Pain, Mental Health Integration, Addiction Medicine
- Technology: Proficiency in [Specific EMR Name, eg, OSCAR, Profile, etc], Telehealth Implementation
- Affiliations: [List any professional bodies, eg, College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC]
- Clinical protocol development
- Patient intake processes
- Integrated addiction care
- Opioid replacement therapy
- Medical leadership
- Chronic pain management
- Multidisciplinary team management
- Evidence-based treatments
- Substance use disorder treatment
- Mental health integration
- Clinical governance standards
- Electronic medical records (EMR) implementation
- Preventive care strategies
- Complex patient case management
- Holistic care planning
- Direct patient care
- Ultrasound Guided Injections
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Limited Working
French
Limited Working
Interests
- Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP)
- I participate in a variety of outdoor recreational activities
- Cooking
- Drawing and Painting
Timeline
Medical Director
Ankors (Opioid Replacement Therapy Clinic)
01.2016 - Current
Medical Director
RISE BC Wellness Centre
2008 - Current
Medical Director
Together We Can Recovery Centre
2018 - 03.2025
Medical Director
Empower Health
2018 - 2025
Medical Director
Community First Medical Clinic
2008 - 2017
Chronic Pain Management
University of Alberta
Family Medicine Residency - Family Medicine
University of British Columbia
M.D. -
University of Toronto
Master of Science - Neuroscience
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
McGill University
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Bicycle mechanics, road biking, backcountry skiing, yoga, languages.