Surgeon

Surgeons work with limited equipment, facilities, and human resources, using strong judgement, professional skills, and extensive experience to treat various ailments. Those in this position must have the ability and skills to independently perform medical treatment and postoperative care in line with MSF protocols.
Surgeons handle a wide range of cases, including puncture wounds and cuts from knives and large sickles, road accidents, gunshot wounds, abdominal gastrointestinal surgery, lung surgery, and cardiovascular surgery. Fractures are also handled by surgeons in areas where there is no orthopaedic surgeon, and in areas where there is no obstetrician/gynecologist, they work with midwives to perform caesarean sections.
They also provide guidance and training for locally hired staff.

Activities

  • Perform surgery on the trunk of the body for gunshot wounds, puncture wounds, blast injuries, traffic injuries, acute abdomen, inguinal hernia incarceration, appendicitis, etc.
  • Treat fractures by external fixation, traction, cast, etc.
  • Perform fasciotomy for compartment syndrome, tendon suture, limb amputation, and myocutaneous flap
  • Perform caesarean section, birth canal laceration, salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy, procedures for postpartum laxative bleeding (balloon compression, subtotal hysterectomy), intrauterine curettage of placental remnants, etc.
  • Manage extensive burns, skin grafting, and hypotonic incision (Buruli ulcer, etc.)
  • Provide initial trauma treatment, including pericardial drainage and chest tube drainage
  • Handle a wide range of cases such as repair of vascular damage, reconstruction by venous graft, placement of suppubic urethral catheter, and foreskin incision for paraphimosis
  • Perform image diagnosis in the absence of CT, using only simple x-ray photographs or ultrasound
  • Manage surgical equipment and supervise guidelines and protocol compliance
  • Assess surgical risks at preoperative examination; carry out postoperative management and rounds
  • Collect, analyse, and monitor quantitative data on surgery
  • Manage the ward in an environment with limited examinations
  • Plan staff training, evaluation, and supervision

Qualifications

Requirements

  • EssentialCompliance with Essential Requirements for all potential candidates
  • Essential2 years of professional experience after obtaining the specialty diploma
  • EssentialSpecialist surgery qualification
  • EssentialExperience with trauma, fractures, burns, and tendon sutures
  • EssentialManagement/teaching experience
  • EssentialClinical experience performing caesarean sections as a surgeon
  • EssentialAbility to work in English and/or in French
  • DesirableClinical experience or training in disaster medicine and mass casualty management
  • DesirableClinical experience in environments with limited human resources and materials, such as isolated islands, remote areas, and developing countries
  • DesirableClinical experience with complex and open fractures
  • DesirableAvailable for a minimum of 6 weeks

Submit your application

Please first prepare your CV (free form) and a motivation letter. Some positions may request you to download and fill specific CV (MSF CV template) and a technical check list. Please check below to ensure document(s) requested for your profile. You need to fill all necessary documents in English or French, then complete your application through our online form.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) accepts applications for international positions through the form below.

Medical Guidelines

Information about clinical and medical necessities for MSF’s activities in developing countries, such as required medical supplies, clinical guidelines, refugee healthcare, tuberculosis, obstetrics, and so on, is available on our website (English)Open a new window. PDF materials, ebook materials, and a smartphone application are available for download. Printed materials are made available at our information sessions.