Dr. Michael Woo

Head, Department of Emergency Medicine

613-798-5555 ext. 14347

Dr. Woo is a Full Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and has been an Emergency Physician and Trauma Team Leader at TOH for more than 20 years. He obtained his medical degree from Queen’s University in 1998 and completed his family medicine and emergency medicine residencies at uOttawa in 2001.

An internationally recognized expert in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), Dr. Woo founded one of Canada’s first Acute Care POCUS Fellowships and was instrumental in developing the Diploma in Acute Care POCUS with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. As Director of Research and Innovations in Emergency Medicine Ultrasonography at the University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital, he helped establish one of the nation’s leading academic POCUS programs.

Throughout his career, Dr. Woo has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to education, mentorship, and innovation. He has led collaborative, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional initiatives across undergraduate, postgraduate, and fellowship education, shaping national standards for ultrasound training and assessment. His scholarly contributions include multiple peer-reviewed publications and invited presentations.

Beyond his academic and research leadership, Dr. Woo’s career has encompassed a broad spectrum of emergency medicine practice—from rural and remote hospitals in Iqaluit to the Ottawa Valley and urban tertiary care centres. His clinical and administrative leadership includes roles as Medical Director for the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Program at TOH and Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Kemptville District Hospital. These experiences have fostered his deep understanding of the continuum of emergency care across diverse settings.

Dr. Woo’s commitment to clinical excellence, patient-centred care, and health care innovation is matched by his dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration, compassion, and continuous improvement. His vision will guide the Department of Emergency Medicine in advancing integrated, high-quality care across the region, while strengthening its role as a national and international leader in research, education, and innovation.

A doctor in blue scrubs explains a medical image on a monitor to a patient wearing a hospital gown in a medical examination room. The screen shows a round, red and white image.

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