GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY SURGEON (M/F) 169 views0 applications

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical and humanitarian association founded in 1971 that provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflicts. They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed or political convictions. MSF is present in more than 60 countries worldwide.

To reinforce the MALAWI mission medical team, MSF- OCP is recruiting a :

GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY SURGEON (M/F)

Context

Malawi has the highest cervical cancer incidence (76/100,000) and mortality rate (50/100,000) in the world, representing an estimated 3,684 new cases and 2,314 deaths annually. Eastern and Southern Africa, including Malawi, also has one of the highest HIV prevalence, which contributes significantly to the cancer incidence, as HIV positive women are significantly more likely to develop cervical cancer when infected with HPV. Despite ongoing efforts to provide cancer screening and treatment services by the Ministry of Health and international organizations, the coverage remains low in comparison to the scale of the need in the country.

MSF, in response to this need, is implementing a unique comprehensive oncology project in Malawi. The project aims to encompass all components of gyneco-oncologic care from primary to tertiary prevention through the collaborative work of a multidisciplinary medical team embedded at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) and community health centers in the Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts in Malawi. The palliative care team is a vital component of the program, which will provide hospital-based palliative care in both inpatient and outpatient settings at QECH, in addition to home-based care for patients in the community.

To reinforce the MALAWI medical team, MSF-OCP is currently looking for a GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY SURGEON.

MSF is seeking a surgeon experienced in gyneco-oncologic care in this rapidly developing project. General responsibilities include organizing and carrying out surgery activities, ensuring pre and post-operative surgical care, in accordance with MSF policies, protocols and universal hygiene standards and in close collaboration with medical staff in the gynecology, oncology, palliative, intensive wards, and operation theatre in order to improve patients’ health conditions.

This is a unique position encompassing the following characteristics:

· Unique opportunities to provide care in diverse resource-limited clinical settings (primary responsibility will be focused on hospital-based care, but supervision of some home-based care in both urban and rural settings will be required) among a diverse case-mix referred from district hospitals that combines oncology with complex comorbidities and tropical medicine (i.e. Malaria, TB, and HIV)

· Substantial opportunity to perform bed-side and theoretical teaching to medical students, interns, residents, clinical officers, and nurses in a tertiary academic medical institution in Malawi

· Opportunities to develop strong leadership, management, and negotiation skills in global health while tackling clinical and public-health challenges within a multinational and multidisciplinary team

The position is an ideal opportunity for a physician with a special interested in providing surgical care to gynecologic oncology patients in resource-limited contexts, offering clinical mentorship and capacity-building of future providers of cancer care in Malawi and engaging in challenging experiences in project management and leadership. As the project is still new in its implementation phase, much flexibility, patience, and diligence will be required. The oncosurgeon will be asked to assist in the set-up of the surgical and associated clinical services for the first months of the mission with the gynecologic oncology referent and the medical focal point. Until the implementation and services are stabilized, the surgeon must be willing to step out of his/her comfort zone, take initiative, and be a proactive and cooperative member of the project launching team, as he/she may be asked to engage in non-surgical activities (e.g. protocol development) during the initial stages.

The surgical cases will primarily be cervical cancers, but depending on the project development, the surgeon may be asked to perform surgeries for other gynaecological cancers (e.g. vulvar cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer). The expected case load will be one to two planned surgeries a day, for five days a week, although these numbers may change.

Accountabilities

Under the supervision of the Project Medical Referent, the Gynecologic Oncology Surgeon will be required to perform the following main activities:

· Coordinates the implementation of MSF clinical policies, tools, guidelines and protocols (antibiotic prophylaxis, post-operative pain management, thrombo-prophylaxis, gyneco-oncologic surgeries, blood transfusion, admission and inpatient orders, etc) and recommendations (standard hygiene and sterilization rules, prevention to HIV, TB, Syphilis and Hep B exposure) in order to minimize clinical risks.

· Undertake pre-operative consultations, evaluating the surgical risks with the anaesthetist and/or other medical staff involved, and obtaining the patient’s signed consent to operate.

· Carry out emergency and programmed surgical intervention following MSF protocols and policies including swab counts, ensuring appropriate use of surgical equipment and proper OT registry entry/documentation of all OT intervention.

· Carry out post-operative clinical care and ward rounds collaborating with the anesthetist, the Operating Theatre Nurse and ward staff or other Unit Managers to ensure compliance with MSF protocols and rational use of medicines. Attend OPD, emergency room when required.

· In collaboration with the anaesthetist, carry-out the collection and analysis of quantitative surgical- anaesthesia data, using post-operative observation sheets, routine data collected, patient files, operating department register, patient file, etc to monitor quality. Monthly revue data and analyze clinical trends and comment on adverse events / poor clinical outcome. Support organizing the operating program and with OT staff monitor use of material and equipment and advise on instrument needs and coordinates patient referral.,

· Put in place the emergency disaster response plan of the hospital along with the anesthetist and the medical doctor and /or the responsible nurse and run role hospital practical rehearsals, in order to ensure the continuity of the services under any circumstance

· Knows and helps implement the accidental blood exposure policy.

· Plan, evaluate, and supervise the training of the staff (emergency and the out-patient teams) in order to ensure the amount of knowledge required and to improve people diagnosing, triage, and early detection capabilities.

Supports other medical teams/wards when needed.

Requirements

Education

· Completion of medical education and residency/clinical training in gynecology (essential) and board certification in gynecology is essential

· Additional fellowship (subspecialty) training in oncology is strongly preferred

· Knowledge and/or training in HIV, TB, Malaria, and STIs would be an asset due to the high prevalence

Experience

· Essential working experience in gynecologic oncology

· Ability to perform gastrointestinal and urinary tract procedures are a critical asset

· Clinical experience in a tertiary care hospital or oncology centers are desirable

· Experience in resource limited settings within MSF or other NGOs are desirable, but not essential

Languages

Fluency in English

Knowledge

Essential computer literacy (word, excel, internet)

Competencies

· Strategic vision

· Leadership

· People management and development

· Service orientation

· Teamwork and cooperation

· Flexibility

Terms of employment

• Based in Blantyre, MALAWI
• 1 year contract
• Salary according to the MSF salary grid and previous relevant experiences
• Starting date : February 2019