Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

[Renaissance Man]

Hey everyone, I did a quick search and didn't find any recent threads about this topic. I was just accepted into medical school, and want to do EM. I was wondering if anyone on this forum has experience with Doctors Without Borders (field work, logistics, managing, etc.)? What do you think about the commitment and program in general?

Thanks!

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[Apollyon]

MSF has a 6 month to 1 year commitment, and you have to be ready to roll in about a month. Squarely, being on mission with MSF conflicts with working probably any EM job in the US. That is even before any enmity from the French towards an American.

 

[ALFI]

I did admin work for them. I organized it with my course coordinator to do distance learning. They allowed me to vaccinate kids and do the admin stuff and I was an extra pair of hands in the surgeries if I was needed. The experience it's self is humbling and brings to earth what being a doctor in the 21st century with our advanced technology is about. Many of the kids are sick and if you can't handle a peds rotation without the threat of Bombs and rebels then you won't cope there.

My signature is derived from my experience in Africa. Also Learn 2 or 3 languages it will be to your advantage. You com home a changed person

 

[deleted6669]

MSF is only one of many organizations that provides overseas medical and disaster relief.
MTI (medical teams international) and the mercy ships are others with options for shorter time commitments.
the text " A practical guide to global health service" by edward o'neil, md lists thousands of opportunities for medical professionals cross referenced by medical specialty, length of desired service and geographical area. a worthwhile investment if considering such an endeavor. good luck.
ps: I know many em physicians who have been able to do work like this during 6-12 mo sabbaticals from their primary jobs. some places offer this as a benefit after X yrs of employment. at my last job it was 1 mo/yr cumulative so lots of folks took their 13th yr off at 1/2 pay to do such a mission and others would do 3-4 months every couple of years instead..

 

[Apollyon]

ps: I know many em physicians who have been able to do work like this during 6-12 mo sabbaticals from their primary jobs. some places offer this as a benefit after X yrs of employment. at my last job it was 1 mo/yr cumulative so lots of folks took their 13th yr off at 1/2 pay to do such a mission and others would do 3-4 months every couple of years instead..

"Many"? Really? I've looked at over 20 groups, and none - bar none - offered a true "sabbatical"; one guy with whom I work now took 3 months, and that he barely got. At my last job on the mainland, a guy who'd been with the group 15 years wanted 6 months off to go on a mission trip, and he couldn't get it. He ended up resigning part and parcel.

If anyone chimes in supporting this "sabbatical" thing, then I'll believe it to be more than just rare.

 

[Cooperd0g]

I'm a lowly pre-med, but have looked into it some myself. Remember that you have to be board certified first. So you will be coming out of a low paying residency and still have med school debt. This makes it tough to do MSF right away. Their website states that they are currently requiring a one year commitment for pretty much everyone except anesthesia, OB/GYN, and orthopods.

 

[deleted6669]

"Many"? Really? I've looked at over 20 groups, and none - bar none - offered a true "sabbatical"; one guy with whom I work now took 3 months, and that he barely got. At my last job on the mainland, a guy who'd been with the group 15 years wanted 6 months off to go on a mission trip, and he couldn't get it. He ended up resigning part and parcel.

If anyone chimes in supporting this "sabbatical" thing, then I'll believe it to be more than just rare.

my first two jobs had paid sabbaticals for physicians, the second also had paid sabbaticals for pa's and np's.
my current job allows physician and pa sabbaticals unpaid as long as you still work 1000 hrs over the course of the yr.
I don't think sabbatical benefit is as uncommon as you think it is although I can't quote a % of jobs that include it as a benefit.

 

[Aesculapius]

Many of the residency programs that I am currently interviewing at have opportunities for international work during your training, so you can get a little bit of experience with it before having to decide to commit 6 months to a year of your life with DWB. Other than that, the impression that I've been given thus far is the opportunity is out there, but you're more likely to get it in academics.

 

[Apollyon]

my first two jobs had paid sabbaticals for physicians, the second also had paid sabbaticals for pa's and np's.
my current job allows physician and pa sabbaticals unpaid as long as you still work 1000 hrs over the course of the yr.
I don't think sabbatical benefit is as uncommon as you think it is although I can't quote a % of jobs that include it as a benefit.

But how long ago were you in your first two jobs? If that is 15 or 20 years, a LOT can change, or indeed has.

 

[deleted6669]

But how long ago were you in your first two jobs? If that is 15 or 20 years, a LOT can change, or indeed has.

I was at those jobs for a long time but both still offer sabbatical benefit in 2011.
I checked the exact requirements for sabbatical at my current job.
pa's must avg 80 hrs/mo over the yr=960 hrs to retain benefits while on sabbatical, md/do must avg 60 hrs/mo=720 hrs over the yr. this is leave without pay, however. at my prior jobs sabbatical was at 50% of base salary for docs at 1 mo/yr cumulative and 6 mo for pa's every 7 yrs. you had to stay for at least 1 yr after a sabbatical or repay the money earned during sabbatical. none of these was at an academic medical ctr. job 1 and 2 were at a well known hmo, current job is a democratic er group at a major trauma ctr.