Country: Sierra Leone
Closing date: 31 Oct 2016
Position Title: Pediatrician
Reports To: Medical Director, PIH Sierra Leone
Location: Sierra Leone (based in Kono District)
Organizational Profile:
Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change.
PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.
Partners In Health helped to lead the effort to combat the Ebola outbreak and now is focusing to rebuild the health systems in West Africa, while maintaining Ebola preparedness through infection prevention and control, in Kono and Port Loko Districts. Established in Sierra Leone in October 2015, we are now fully integrated with our long-term partner, the Wellbody Alliance, who has been working to serve the poorest patients in the country since 2007. The Ebola epidemic further devastated an already weakened health system. As the epidemic wanes, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.
General Responsibilities:
PIH is seeking an experienced physician to help manage clinical programs at PIH-supported healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone. The Pediatrician will be based out of the Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) in Kono District. He or she will work closely with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation on the development and implementation of work plans, medical education initiatives, and improving the quality of care. This individual will provide support to the Medical Director and other PIH leadership and advance PIH’s core mission of health systems strengthening in Sierra Leone.
Specific Responsibilities:
Clinical Supervision and Support
- Serve as Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) Pediatric lead
- Complete daily rounds on pediatric and nutrition wards at KGH with CHO and nursing staff
- Manage pediatric cases according to national and international clinical guidelines
- Oversee the inpatient therapeutic feeding center and outpatient therapeutic feeding program
- Perform clinical teaching, mentorship and capacity building of clinicians through participation in district hospitals, outpatient clinics, community health clinics, case review, and other activities.
- Provide general support and supervision throughout the hospital, as needed
- Pediatric wards, Nutrition Wards for clinical supervision
- Direct supervision for CHO rounding on pediatric ward
- Provide supervision to social workers, in conjunction with nursing department.
- Work in collaboration monthly and as needed with Medical Director/Nursing Director and Director of Operations on guiding KGH strategy.
- As the KGH Pediatric Lead, serve as the point of contact for the following:
- Pharmacy and procurement: use Open Boxes on an as-needed basis to support interface between clinical and pharmacy teams for pediatric formulary. Attend weekly pharmacy meetings.
- Visitors and other meetings/events at KGH, as needed from senior management
- Referral team – supporting Director of Nursing and Social Work as needed for pediatric patients requiring referral for diagnostic or specialty services
Administration
- Attend weekly Clinical Ops Meetings at KGH
- Attend KGH morning report
- Approve overtime sheets and vacation request for CHOs and SWs
- Work closely with the PIH SL Medical Director, Nursing Director and Kono Leadership team on strategic planning and budgeting for our pediatrics and malnutrition work.
- Work with the leadership team to contribute to grant proposals and reports to current and potential donors
Education
- Assist with and collaborate on supervision, curriculum building and implementation/scheduling of nursing and CHO
- Continue ongoing education curriculum for CHOs
- Provide bedside training for all cadres of staff
- Provide clinical accompaniment for KGH/MOHS medical officers
PIH Leadership
- Lead by example, embodying the values of PIH, including: doing whatever it takes to provide the highest level of service to our patients; treating every member of our organization and community with equal respect and dignity; fostering a sense of generosity and teamwork; and working patiently, yet persistently, to accompany our government partners to achieve our shared goals.
Qualifications:
- MD or equivalent medical training and board certification in a medical specialty required
- At least two years of clinical experience in a low-resource health care setting required
- Strong HIV/TB clinical and program management strongly preferred
- Experience in malnutrition management strongly preferred
- Experience in treating malaria and other tropical diseases preferred.
- A strong commitment to social justice and health as a human right is essential in all aspects of the leadership and management
- Ability to be flexible and effective in the face of unexpected challenges.
- Experience in public health is a plus.
- Exemplary interpersonal communication skills, verbal and written, required to effectively engage with senior leadership, partners, and clinicians on sensitive political and confidential issues. Ability to collaborate effectively with culturally diverse staff across departments and country.
- Evidence of providing culturally sensitive and competent quality care in an extremely stressful environment.
- Proven ability to exercise good judgment, demonstrate political astuteness, and tact.
- Prior experience working in resource poor settings. Sense of humor and flexible disposition very helpful. The candidate should have a demonstrated ability to be flexible and effective in the face of unexpected challenges as well as the willingness to accept a standard of living that is clean and comfortable but simple.
- Interest in social justice strongly desirable
- Ability to live in Sierra Leone full-time
Partners In Health is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
How to apply: