Charl Els

Charl Els (MBChB, FCPsych[SA], MMedPsych(cum laude), DipABAM, MROCC, ACBOM, FIAIME) is a fellowship-trained Psychiatrist, Addiction Specialist, and Occupational Physician. Charl serves as a Clinical Professor at both the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Medicine. He has authored or co-authored numerous publications, including several clinical practice guideline sets and four Cochrane systematic reviews. Charl serves on the Advisory Board of Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), the 2019 recipient of the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice. Most recently, he was a recipient of the QE II Platinum Jubilee Award for his contribution to mental health in
Alberta. Dr. Els is engaged in clinical service delivery to military and law enforcement personnel.

Selected Publications

Els, C., Gelinas, B., Straube, S. et al. Best Practices for the Mental and Behavioral Disorder Independent Medical Examination. SN Compr. Clin. Med. 7, 110 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-025-01882-8

Els, C., Snider-Adler, M., & Straube, S. OEMAC Position Statement on the Implications of Cannabis Use for Safety-Sensitive and  Decision-Critical Work. SN Compr. Clin. Med. 7, 115 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-025-01873-9.

Els, C., Jackson, T. D., Milen, M. T., Kunyk, D., Wyatt, G., Sowah, D., Hagtvedt, R., Deibert, D., & Straube, S. (2020). Random drug and alcohol testing for preventing injury in workers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD012921. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012921.pub2.

Els, C., Jackson, T., Aidoo, H., Wyatt, G., Sowah, D., Chao, D., Tsuyuki, R., Hoffman, H., Kunyk, D., Milen, M., Stewart-Patterson, C., Dick, B., Farnan, P., & Straube, S. (2019). Impact of Cannabis Use on Road Traffic Collisions and Safety at Work: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Addiction, 3, 8-15.

Li, H., Shapiro, M. E., Els, C., & Allison, K. C. (2015) Organ transplantation in China: Concerns remain. Lancet 2015, 385(9971), 855-856.