Medical doctor

Medical doctor

Caption An MSF doctor examines a child at an MSF mobile clinic in Colombia. The mobile clinics are held in rural communities affected by armed conflict. © Natalia Romero Peñuela/MSF

Being a Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) medical doctor is exciting and eye-opening work.

From caring for people living with neglected tropical diseases to conducting rounds to survey trauma patients in a large Ministry of Health hospital after a bout of conflict, MSF’s doctors provide life-saving care every day in our projects.

Responsibilities

Being a medical doctor with MSF can be a challenging role, and the needs are very diverse depending upon the project you work in. Medical doctors are based in the project, and will often care for people affected by some or all of the following:

• Malaria
• Malnutrition
• HIV/AIDs or TB
• Injuries sustained in a conflict zone
• Trauma
• Tropical Diseases

"I feel I make a greater impact on the patients that I see working with MSF, because they are much more in need. It has given me real perspective on life and has made me realise how privileged we are here."

JAVID ABDELMONEIM | Medical doctor

Application guide

Read our guide on the application process for all overseas roles

Read our guide >

Role requirements

• A minimum of a full 3 years' professional experience after registration
• Current or recent clinical experience
• Full GMC or Irish Medical Council Registration
• Available for a minimum of nine months
• Minimum of six months’ relevant work, volunteering or travel experience in low-income countries
• Willingness to work in unstable areas
• Adaptable and able to work in a multicultural team
• Able to provide training and supervision to others
• Fluency in English
• Diploma level of training in tropical medicine and/or infectious disease (especially TB and HIV/AIDS) from a recognised training provider, for example, the London or Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (see FAQs for more on accepted training in Tropical Medicine)

Assets

• Minor surgical and obstetrical experience
• Managerial and supervisory experience
• Paediatric, ER or other specialisations

Languages

We are always looking for doctors with good French or Arabic skills.

If you speak French or Arabic to the appropriate B2 level where you can be placed in a French or Arabic speaking mission such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chad or Yemen, you're much more likely to be accepted onto our register.

Your language level may be tested during the recruitment process.