Surgeon
Caption An MSF surgeon and medical doctor perform a laparotomy on patient, Nyaduoth, in South Sudan. © Gabriele François Casini/MSF
Our surgeons provide practical, life-saving care to vulnerable people all over the world.
As a Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) surgeon, you could be called to perform a caesarean section in a temporary tented health facility for displaced people in South Sudan, through to performing a highly technical operation on a child disfigured by noma in Nigeria. Surgical work with MSF is incredibly varied.
Responsibilities
Our surgeons are always based in the project (unless it is managed at distance due to security), and perform a wide range of surgical interventions and non-surgical care, from burns care and dressings through to fistula surgeries and managing spear wounds.
It’s an exciting and diverse role and our surgeons are usually responsible for some or all of the following:
1. Performing obstetric surgeries where needed
2. Management of war wounds (bullet removal, amputations, etc)
3. General surgery
4. Burns management
5. Training/managing national staff (operation theatre nurse, paramedics, etc)
Application guide
Read our guide on the application process for all overseas roles
Read our guide >
Role requirements
6. Post CCT/FRCS higher surgical training and an ability to work autonomously
7. Full GMC or Irish Medical Council registration
8. Ability to perform general surgery including Paediatrics and Caesarean sections. Some experience in A&E and orthopaedics is desirable
9. Current or recent practical experience
10. Ability to work with limited resources
11. Experience in managing, supervising and training others
12. Able to work well as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
13. Willing to work in unstable areas and ability to cope in a difficult and unpredictable environment
14. Availability for a minimum period of eight weeks
15. Minimum of three months’ work, volunteering or travelling experience in low-income countries
The Surgical Training for Austere Environments (STAE) is a course that was designed in collaboration between MSF and the Royal College of Surgeons. The aim of the course is to provide experienced surgeons with the essential general surgical skills needed to work abroad in low resource settings. MSF strongly recommends this course to all surgeons that want to work abroad with us.
Languages
We're currently looking for surgeons with good French or Arabic skills.
If you can speak French or Arabic you're much more likely to be accepted onto our register.
Your language level may be tested during the recruitment process.