Gynecology/Obstetrics Volunteer Medical Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a renowned international humanitarian organization that provides medical assistance to populations in distress, including those affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Established in 1971, MSF operates in over 70 countries, employing thousands of staff members, including medical professionals, logistical experts, and administrative personnel. The organization is committed to delivering high-quality medical care and advocating for the rights of those it serves, often working in challenging and resource-limited environments. The Telemedicine Program, initiated by MSF Canada in 2009, aims to bridge the gap in healthcare access by leveraging technology to connect medical specialists with frontline teams worldwide, ensuring that patients receive timely and effective medical advice regardless of their location.

Job Overview:
The Gynecology/Obstetrics Volunteer Medical Specialist role within MSF’s Telemedicine Program is designed for medical professionals who wish to contribute their expertise remotely. In this position, you will provide critical medical and clinical support to MSF’s global medical teams on a case-by-case basis. Your responsibilities will include reviewing and responding to patient cases assigned to you through a secure Telemedicine Platform. The role is flexible, allowing you to work asynchronously, which means you can provide your input at your convenience, making it an ideal opportunity for those with limited time availability. This position is vital as it ensures that even in the most isolated and resource-limited settings, patients can receive high-quality medical advice, which can be life-saving. By volunteering, you will directly impact frontline medical teams, helping them make informed clinical decisions that improve patient outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As a Gynecology/Obstetrics Volunteer Medical Specialist, your key responsibilities will include: reviewing patient cases assigned to you on the Telemedicine Platform and providing timely medical or clinical advice within a 24-hour timeframe; ensuring that all advice aligns with MSF guidelines and is appropriate for low-resource settings; providing ongoing follow-up on assigned cases until they are resolved; collaborating with other Medical Specialists assigned to the same case and sharing your specialized expertise to contribute to a global community of medical knowledge. Your role will be crucial in supporting MSF’s mission to provide equitable healthcare access to underserved populations.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, candidates must have a minimum of 4 years of post-qualification work experience in Gynecology/Obstetrics. A university degree or higher in a medical specialty is required, along with active registration and certification with your professional regulatory body. Candidates should be comfortable using technology and navigating online platforms, as the role relies heavily on digital communication. Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is mandatory, while fluency in Arabic, French, or Spanish is highly desirable. Previous experience with MSF or in low-resource settings is also highly desirable, and training in Tropical Medicine is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree or higher in a medical specialty relevant to Gynecology/Obstetrics. This educational background is essential to ensure that the volunteer can provide informed and accurate medical advice to MSF’s medical teams. Additionally, active registration and certification with the relevant professional regulatory body is required to practice in this field.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of post-qualification work experience in Gynecology/Obstetrics. This level of experience is necessary to ensure that the volunteer has the requisite knowledge and skills to provide effective medical support and advice to MSF’s medical teams. Experience in low-resource settings or with MSF is highly desirable, as it indicates familiarity with the challenges faced in such environments.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as all communications and documentation will be conducted in this language. Additionally, fluency in Arabic, French, or Spanish is highly desirable, as it can enhance communication with diverse teams and patients, further supporting MSF’s mission to provide equitable healthcare access.

Additional Notes:
This is a fully remote volunteer position, allowing individuals to contribute from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. The time commitment is up to 3 hours per week, providing flexibility for volunteers. Successful candidates will be required to sign a Volunteer Agreement, which includes clauses on data privacy, non-disclosure, and medical liability. Onboarding will involve an overview of the Telemedicine Program and platform training, which is self-paced and takes approximately 1.5 hours. Candidates may also need to complete a background check and provide three professional references, which will only be contacted with the candidate's permission. Applications are welcomed from Gynecology/Obstetrics Specialists globally, although the recruitment process is currently not actively seeking new volunteers, and applications will be kept on file for future opportunities.