About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients.

MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

Surgeons

As an MSF surgeon, you could be called to perform a cesarean section in a temporary tented health facility for displaced people in South Sudan or to perform a highly technical operation on a child disfigured by noma in Nigeria. Surgical work with MSF is incredibly varied.

Responsibilities

As a surgeon working with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), you will prepare and carry out surgery according to priorities and protocols and manage operating room (OR) staff and resources. You will monitor the quality of care and hygiene in the OR.

Surgeons are in charge of patients' pre- and postoperative follow-up and will carry out emergency and, at times, elective surgeries while ensuring protocols are respected and quality standards are met.

Requirements

Commitment to work internationally for a minimum of 8 to 12 week international assignments
Active medical license
Experience performing cesarean sections
Previous experience in a low resource setting (priority given to those with experience working in a humanitarian context)
Minimum of two years relevant professional experience post surgical residency
At least 6 months of clinical practice within the last two years
Ability to work autonomously with limited materials and resources
Ability to work within a diverse team

Assets

Relevant travel or work experience in contexts similar to where MSF works (armed conflicts, disasters, public health emergencies, or situations of healthcare exclusion)
Knowledge of French or another language (Arabic, Spanish)
Proficiency with Microsoft Office software (especially Excel)

Before you apply

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, it is essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Security and Safety

Because Doctors Without Borders’ purpose is to bring medical assistance to people in distress, the work may occur in settings of active conflict, or in post-conflict environments, in which there are inherent risks, potential dangers, and ongoing threats to safety and security. MSF acknowledges that it is impossible to exclude all risks, but it does its utmost as an organization to mitigate and manage these risks through strict and comprehensive security protocols.

International staff will be fully informed of the risk associated with a potential assignment before accepting a particular posting. Working for MSF is a deeply personal choice; individuals must determine for themselves the level of risk and the circumstances in which they feel comfortable, based on a full and transparent understanding of the possibilities they may face. Once in the assignment, all MSF staff must strictly observe security rules and regulations; failure to do so may result in dismissal.

Terms of Employment

MSF staff are employees with a salary and benefits.

MSF encourages the completion of multiple assignments. There are numerous opportunities for professional advancement within the organization, spanning medical, non-medical, and coordination roles.

Final Thoughts

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, is it essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Despite such challenges, thousands of people have worked with MSF over the years and found their experiences in the field to be deeply rewarding, even life-changing. More than anything else, being an MSF international worker means acting in solidarity with people facing unimaginable medical challenges. Your presence alongside people in times of need sends a profoundly meaningful and human message: “You are not forgotten."

MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws. We also provide reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. We encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

If you have a disability and require accommodations to use our website for applying for a position, please get in touch with Human Resources at employment.msfusa@newyork.msf.org. We consider reasonable accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis.

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If you obtained a degree from outside of the United States, please provide: School name, degree obtained, start date and end date.

LinkedIn Profile

Where did you hear about working internationally with MSF?

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Are you currently, or have you ever been employed by MSF? If yes, please provide details: specify the office, whether as headquarters, locally hired staff, or as internationally mobile staff, location, job title and description of duties, dates of employment, etc. (max. 150 words).

Have you applied to MSF before? If yes, please specify which month/year.

Are you authorized to work in the United States?

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Do you require sponsorship for work authorization in the United States?

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Please use the link to read about compensation, pay and benefits: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/pay-benefits/ ... ...Can you confirm that you have read and understood and that you agree with the salary and benefits that MSF USA offers?

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What attracts you to MSF and why do you wish to join our pool of international mobile staff?

How does this specific position fit with your career and personal goals?

MSF emphasizes the completion of multiple assignments. Are you open to making such a commitment? If so, please describe how you would integrate MSF into your professional and personal circumstances.

What is your level of fluency in English?

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What is your level of fluency in French?

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What is your level of fluency in Arabic?

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What is your level of fluency in Spanish?

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What is your level of fluency in Portuguese?

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Do you speak any other languages?

Have you ever been in a management role?

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If yes, please describe your responsibilities, the number of staff under your supervision, the length of time you have spent in this role, and your working environment (e.g., NGO, govt, business).

Have you ever taught/trained others?

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If yes, please describe the context and number of people you were training/teaching.

Please provide details of your previous travel and/or international experiences, including the locations visited, year and durations, and please specify the nature of your stay. Relevant experiences for MSF included having traveled, lived, worked, volunteered or studied in regions such as Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Northern/ remote regions in the United States.

How do you evaluate your computer skills? Please describe your proficiency in working with applications such as Excel, Word, and Outlook (max. 100 words).

MSF's mission is to provide medical assistance to populations in need. Therefore, our work often takes place in settings characterized by active conflicts or post-conflict environments. These contexts inherently involve risks, potential dangers, and ongoing threats to safety and security. The most common destinations for US International Mobile Staff, include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, South Sudan, and Haiti. Is there a region in the world where you would prefer to work? Why?

Are there any regions or countries you wish to avoid being placed on a first assignment? If so, please explain why not.

Due to the nature of MSF work, we expect International Mobile Staff to be flexible to project needs and, therefore, available for a minimum of 8 weeks. MSF assignments for this role require a 8 to 12 week time commitment. Does this align with your availability?

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When would you be available to work overseas? Please state the month/year.

Do you hold a practice license and registration certificate from a regulatory or licensing body that regulates or certifies your profession?

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If yes, please provide details in your CV or below: license or certification type, licensing state/body, your license number, the name on the license (if it differs from your application), and when it expires.

Do you have any relevant experience in the following fields? Please select all that apply. *

Emergency surgery

Orthopedics

Trauma

Obstetrics (cesarean section, oophorectomy, dilation, and curettage)

Other

Do you have any relevant global health experience?

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If yes, please describe any relevant global health experience or training in tropical medicine.

Supplementary information: Feel free to highlight any skills, experiences, or training related to the position that were not mentioned in your application (max. 150 words).

I confirm that I have read, understood, and agree to the MSF USA recruitment policies and procedures stated on this website. I understand that MSF USA will store all personal details confidentially for a maximum of two years in compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act. I understand that MSF USA will use my personal details only for recruitment purposes and will not share this data with anyone outside of MSF. I confirm that all of the above information is truthful and complete as of this date.

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U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.

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For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) - Field’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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Surgeons

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Surgeons

Responsibilities

Requirements

Assets

Before you apply

Security and Safety

Terms of Employment

Final Thoughts

Apply for this job

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

Voluntary Self-Identification

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability