Meet our Staff

Derek Puddester MD, Med, FRCPC
Director, Faculty Wellness Program

Dr. Derek Puddester is Director of the Behavioural Neurosciences and Consultation-Liaison team at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), as well as the Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa.  He is Director of Professional Development and Continuing Education for the CHEO Department of Psychiatry. 

Dr. Puddester is also the Director of the Faculty Wellness Program (FWP) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. This unique program provides preventative, educational, interventional, and rehabilitation services to medical students, residents, and staff physicians.  He is supported in this work by a large team of community physicians, academic leaders, and provincial and national partners.  Derek’s publications, abstracts, and grants focus on physician health and wellness, pediatric mental health, and psychiatric education and training.  Dr. Puddester obtained his B.A., B. Med. Sc., and M.D. from Memorial University of Newfoundland.  He completed a residency in Psychiatry at McMaster University, and then completed a fellowship in child/adolescent psychiatry at the University of Ottawa.  In 2008, he completed his M. Ed. at uOttawa with a focus on physician health. 

He is actively involved in the leadership of local, provincial, and national medical organizations and has hope and faith in the Canadian healthcare system.

Sara Sinclair

Administrative Assistant
Faculty Wellness Program
Telephone: (613) 562-5800 ext. 8507
Fax: (613) 562-5457
E-mail:  wellness@uottawa.ca