Vacancy Announcement

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.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, 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.

– He/she will work closely with the RMNCH team, including MOHS staff on the development and implementation of work plans, medical education programs and initiatives to improve the quality of maternal and newborn care.

– He/she will provide support to the RMNCH Director, Clinical Program Manager, Medical Director and other PIH leadership as needed

– He/she will advance PIH’s core mission of health systems strengthening in Sierra Leone by providing direct obstetrics and gynecology clinical care whilst also training, upskilling and mentoring all clinical cadres that work in the RMNCH unit

This position has an anticipated assignment length of a minimum of 12 months.

The OBGYN Doctor is responsible for maintaining and developing the following key performance areas:

Clinical Practice Supervision and Accompaniment:

• Work with MOHS senior team at Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) and RMNH Lead, focusing on the accompaniment, mentorship, and supervision of all clinical staff including physicians, midwives, nurses, Surgical Assistant Community Health Officers (SACHOs), and Community Health Officers (CHOs), in the areas of reproductive, maternal, and newborn health
• Perform clinical teaching, mentorship and capacity building of clinicians working at the district hospital, outpatient clinics, and community clinics through leading and participating in activities including teaching rounds, curriculum and training development and implementation, case reviews, and other activities
• Provide OBGYN surgical training, mentorship, and supervision for Residents, Medical Officers, House Officers, general surgeons, surgical trainees, and SACHOs for professional development, giving support for the development of OBGYN skills as part of the West Africa post graduate surgical training program.
• Collaborate with PIH SL Midwife/RMNCH Lead to provide clinical oversight for the KGH Maternity Ward including:

– Direct supervision for PIH Medical Officers, SACHOS, CHOs in maternity and overseeing all MOHS corresponding staff

– Collaborative supervision and accompaniment of national midwives and national nurses with the Clinical RMNH Program manager and MOHS In Charge

• Demonstrate a high level of understanding, knowledge and skills in obstetrics and gynecology
• Demonstrate expert clinical knowledge of complex cases and obstetric emergency’s through problem solving and decision making
• Demonstrate accountability for OBGYN practices
• Practice within own abilities and refer to more senior staff as needed
• Provide direct clinical care and manage OBGYN cases according to national and international clinical guidelines, including providing surgery for obstetric and Gynae cases
• Complete twice daily rounds on maternity ward with clinicians, midwives, and nursing staff
• Conduct and oversee ANC, high risk OBGYN, family planning and other RMNH out-patient clinics
• Work collaboratively with fellow OBGYNs to ensure that the unit has 24 hours coverage including having an OBGYN as a 2nd on Call
• Ability to do night on call hours is essential
• Maintain own competence as an OBGYN through certification, clinical practice and accreditation in mandatory and extended skills
• Identify strategies for optimizing patient care in the clinical environment based on current research and evidence in clinical practice.
• Implement SGBV protocols in line with National guidelines
• May be called on to provide occupational health services pro Rota

Education and Research:

• Assist with and collaborate on curriculum building, implementation, and scheduling of all RMNH staff training activities
• Serve as the focal person for the Maternity component of the ongoing CHO education curriculum at KGH
• Provide bedside training and education for all cadres of staff
• Participate with the development of care pathways, clinical guideline and workflows for the Maternal Centre of Excellenc and current Maternity department
• Implement and evaluate clinical education programs and in-services for practicing clinicians in collaboration with the Clinical Education Team
• Implement and evaluate the Nursing/Midwifery Orientation and Student Nurses Orientation Programs in collaboration with the Directors of Nursing, RMNCH and Director of Clinical Education
• Initiate, participate and contribute to the development of clinical knowledge and skills of newly qualified clinicians and students
• Provide clinical support to new and existing nurses/midwives as well as students
• Develop and maintain relevant clinical educational resources for all staff
• Identify individual learning needs of staff that are being supervised and develop learning plans in conjunction with them
• Perform clinical assessments of clinicians and provide certification of competency where required
• Participate in the delivery of formal and informal education
• Actively participate in activities that promote the professional development of staff
• Foster an environment that supports the utilization of clinical research
• Collaborate with the Directors of Nursing, RMNH and Clinical Education to identify research opportunities for the department

Quality Improvement and Management:

• Undertake necessary components of the performance evaluation process
• Promote and participate in quality improvement and safety activities as well as institutional accreditation processes
• Participate in relevant committees, meetings and service activities as required and provide relevant feedback and dissemination of appropriate information
• Assess and evaluate the quality of education resources and equipment required to meet the learning needs of staff and in the clinical environment
• Contribute to the clinical education component of the strategic plan of the organization
• Participate in critical incident debriefings as required.

Administration:

• Attend weekly Clinical Ops Meetings at KGH
• Attend KGH morning report
• Work closely with the PIH SL RMNCH Clinical Program Manager, Director of Nursing, Chief Medical Officer and PIH SL Leadership on strategic planning and budgeting
• Work with the leadership team and RMNCH Clinical Program Manager to contribute to grant proposals and reports to current and potential donors

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;

– working patiently, yet persistently, to accompany our government partners to achieve our shared goals.

• Step in to leadership roles as needed and as directed by the PIH Sierra Leone leadership team

• MD or equivalent medical training and board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Fellowship required preferably from West Africa as we are seeking future accreditation for OBGYN Training and this is a requirement from WACS
• Minimum of four years of clinical experience at Consultant level with at least 6-months in a low-resource health care setting required
• Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) clinical and program management experience strongly preferred
• Experience in the following areas preferred: HIV/TB, treating malaria and other tropical diseases
• Ebola screening, isolation, and management experience is a plus
• Experience and interest in providing clinical education, training, and mentorship to health workers of all cadres
• A strong commitment to social justice and health as a human right is essential in all aspects of the leadership and management
• Experience in public health and/or program management 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
• Working knowledge and ability to use Microsoft Office and other relevant software
• 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
• Proven commitment to social justice and passion for serving the poor and vulnerable
• Humility, a sense of curiosity, and commitment to creatively tackling seemingly impossible problems
• Sense of humor and ability to laugh at self, and with others
• 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
• Ability to live in Kono District, Sierra Leone full-time with shared accommodation
• This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted. It is the practice of this organization periodically to examine employees’ job description and to update them to ensure that they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This procedure is jointly conducted by each manager in consultation with those working directly to him or her. You will, therefore, be expected to participate fully in such discussions and reach an amicable conclusion with your manager.