Best Practice Option for MSF

[Trajan]

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Doctors Without Borders has a critical need for anesthesiologists and typically sends them on 4-8 week missions. Those missions are much shorter than those of most other specialties. That said, even a month or two away is a significant leave of absence from a practice.

Disclaimer: I'm only starting PGY-2 in July -- but when I finish residency and look for a job, which type of position is most compatible with a goal of working with MSF once every year or two?

Academics? Large Private Practice Group? Small Private Practice Group? VA?

I had always suspected that MSF doctors would be in academics, but the bios that I have seen of their anesthesiologists are almost always private practice guys. Ultimately, I'd love to work in a large urban VA affiliated with a medical school, but worry that a 1-2 month leave of absence is a deal breaker in those jobs.

Any thoughts or insight?

 

[PMPMD]

Doctors Without Borders has a critical need for anesthesiologists and typically sends them on 4-8 week missions. Those missions are much shorter than those of most other specialties. That said, even a month or two away is a significant leave of absence from a practice.

Disclaimer: I'm only starting PGY-2 in July -- but when I finish residency and look for a job, which type of position is most compatible with a goal of working with MSF once every year or two?

Academics? Large Private Practice Group? Small Private Practice Group? VA?

I had always suspected that MSF doctors would be in academics, but the bios that I have seen of their anesthesiologists are almost always private practice guys. Ultimately, I'd love to work in a large urban VA affiliated with a medical school, but worry that a 1-2 month leave of absence is a deal breaker in those jobs.

Any thoughts or insight?

I would assume academics or large group. There are some private groups that would allow that kind of time off.

 

[pgg]

You might also consider other organizations that have shorter time commitments. Operation Smile is a great one that comes to mind.

 

[periopdoc]

Academics or VA

- pod

 

[DrN2O]

Operation Rainbow. Ortho. Usually 10 days. And I've worked with both academic attendings, and private guys.

 

[imfrankie]

Doctors Without Borders has a critical need for anesthesiologists and typically sends them on 4-8 week missions. Those missions are much shorter than those of most other specialties. That said, even a month or two away is a significant leave of absence from a practice.

Disclaimer: I'm only starting PGY-2 in July -- but when I finish residency and look for a job, which type of position is most compatible with a goal of working with MSF once every year or two?

Academics? Large Private Practice Group? Small Private Practice Group? VA?

I had always suspected that MSF doctors would be in academics, but the bios that I have seen of their anesthesiologists are almost always private practice guys. Ultimately, I'd love to work in a large urban VA affiliated with a medical school, but worry that a 1-2 month leave of absence is a deal breaker in those jobs.

Any thoughts or insight?

Here's a thought, ask the MSF people. They can probably help you solve the problem. They have a network and I'd love to hear what they have to say.

 

[Apollyon]

Here's a thought, ask the MSF people. They can probably help you solve the problem. They have a network and I'd love to hear what they have to say.

Hey you! What are you doing? This is SDN! This is where people ask what the requirements are for state licensing and for various schools and tests - heaven forbid anyone ask the people making the decision! Clearly, it's a bunch of anonymous folks here on the board that have the definitive information!

 

[Trajan]

Here's a thought, ask the MSF people. They can probably help you solve the problem. They have a network and I'd love to hear what they have to say.

My hope as I started this thread was to trigger a response from someone who either works with MSF or has substantial knowledge of anesthesiologists who do.

Instead I got a response from you. I use SDN as one source of useful information. Why are you here?

 

[Apollyon]

My hope as I started this thread was to trigger a response from someone who either works with MSF or has substantial knowledge of anesthesiologists who do.

Instead I got a response from you. I use SDN as one source of useful information. Why are you here?

It seems clear - between when you started this thread, and who has responded to other threads in the same time - that no one either has the experience, information, or inclination to assist you.

When I looked into MSF 8 years ago, I was surprised at the commitment - I don't recall specifics, but 1. you had to go for the whole tour and 2. you had to be on alert for 6 months or one year or something. In other words, they call, you haul - you hang up your stethoscope where you are and get on a plane and get the hell out of Dodge, into the ****, wherever that is. However, I do not know that if that is still the effective modality, thus is why I didn't state it. Ergo, contact MSF.

Unless you own the group, you ain't gettin' cut loose to go on a moment's notice for 4 or 8 weeks (or more). That's they way it is, but check with MSF to be sure.