doctorswithoutborders:
Photo: South Sudan 2012 © Nichole Sobecki
Working in the field
A Doctors Without Borders field assignment is a commitmen—of time and passion—to apply your skills to help men, women, and children whose lives hang in the balance. Our recruitment process is competitive because we are always looking for the best people to strengthen our collective expertise and increase the quality of medical care we deliver to our patients.
What it takes
To become an aid worker with Doctors Without Borders, applicants must meet the following general requirements:
- Experience. At least two years of continuous relevant professional experience.
- Availability. Doctors should be available for a minimum of six months (Surgeons, anesthesiologists, operating room nurses, nurse anesthetists, and OB/GYNs may be accepted for shorter assignments), and all other professionals for nine to 12 months.
- Ability to Live and Work as a Team. With long hours and basic living conditions, aid workers need to be tolerant, flexible, and possess solid interpersonal skills. Experience in Resource-Poor Settings. Prior work experience in the developing world or extensive work in resource-poor North American settings is strongly desired.
- Ability to Manage Stress. With sizeable workloads in or near conflict areas, aid workers must be able to cope in difficult and unpredictable situations. Flexibility. Situations can change quickly in the field, and job descriptions must change accordingly.
- Flexibility is critical to success on a project.
- Language skills. The ability to speak French, Portuguese, Spanish, or Arabic, as well as English, is highly valued, as are many other languages.
Who is Needed
Medical
Physicians, Obstetricians/Gynecologists, Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Operating Room Nurses, Nurse-Midwives, Epidemiologists, HIV/AIDS and TB Specialists, Pharmacists, Mental Health Specialists
Non-Medical
Logisticians coordinate supplies, oversee transportation and communications equipment, and supervise national non-medical staff. Water and Sanitation Specialists and Construction Professionals provide clean water and housing to stem the spread of communicable diseases, give shelter to displaced people, and create hospital facilities. Administrators and Financial Controllers are responsible for project bookkeeping, budget control, financial reporting, and human resources.
