Description
Jon Title: Medical Director, Lower Neno
Report to: PIH/APZU Director of Clinical Services
Location: Lisungwi, Neno, Malawi
Organizational Profile
Partners In Health (PIH) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Boston, MA, whose mission is to provide quality health care for the poor and marginalized in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Dominican Republic, and Navajo Nation. In addition, PIH has a growing network of affiliated organizations and initiatives in several other countries, including Nepal, Burundi, Mali, Liberia, and Togo. Through service delivery, training, advocacy and research, PIH works around the globe to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of it, to serve as an antidote to despair, and inspire others to do the same.
This is an exciting time for PIH. We are taking on immense challenges, and a newfound visibility has brought the opportunity to influence great change on the global stage. PIH seeks individuals committed to the mission and values (see PIH Values) of the organization to join the team.
Job Summary
The Medical Director works closely with the Ministry of Health, other implementing partners in Neno, and APZU colleagues to oversee and help implement overall planning, project implementation, supervision, and monitoring for clinical and community activities in Lower Neno. This position has a significant focus on harmonizing processes and vision with the clinical and community team in upper Neno / Neno District Hospital. It is a mixture of direct patient care, clinical mentoring, hands-on project implementation, and oversight of staff at Lisungwi Hospital. The Medical Director reports to APZU's Director of Clinical Services, and the success of this role requires good communication and strong working relationships with all PIH departments and district partners.
Responsibilities
Management and Supervision
- Work with APZU senior management team and district colleagues to develop and implement long term clinical vision and strategy for the organization / district
- Develop and maintain positive relationships with the MOH, local government, community leaders, and non-profit organizations
- Ensure effective communication and collaboration with upper Neno projects with a specific focus on clinical and community initiatives
- Supervises the Clinical Manager of Lower Neno with a primary aim of direct and goal-oriented mentorship
- Acts as a daily supervisor to Community Department staff in Lower Neno including staff in these programs: Village Health Worker (VHW), Program on Social and Economic Rights (POSER), and Community Programs. Coordinates this daily supervision with their departmental supervisors based in upper Neno
- Supervises APZU pharmacy staff who are working to improve APZU's supply chain and practices and collaborate with the pharmacy staff at MOH
- Assists with operational staff and warehouse activities that pertain to pharmaceutical and medical supplies when medical input is needed
- Will make key managerial and administrative decisions in Lisungwi after consultation with APZU Director of Clinical Services and other senior management as it applies
- Help supervise grants implementation and compliance in lower Neno, budget processes, and assist with implementing key HR initiatives in lower Neno
Clinical
- Provide clinical mentorship and bedside teaching to interns and junior clinicians, nurses, midwives and medical assistants.
- Shares responsibility with other PIH staff for attending on the wards and providing ambulatory patient care at Lisungwi Community Hospital.
- May be asked to cover weekend hospital call as needed
- Work in a dynamic team environment, with a respectful and supportive attitude, along side both MOH and PIH clinical, community, and administrative staff.
Community programs and outreach
- Support APZU's community department programs in lower Neno via supervision of daily tasks, technical support, implementation assistance, and streamlining activities for overall organizational vision and harmonizing activities with upper Neno
- Regularly attend community level events such as health promotion and prevention events, VHW meetings, and meetings with community leaders as needed
- Work toward APZU goal of integration across clinical and community departments
- Regular check-ins and updates
- Perform other clinical, community outreach and supervisory duties as assigned.
Qualifications and requirement
- MBBS, MD or equivalent
- Residency training required
- Fluent in English and demonstrated proficiency in writing in English
- Willingness to live and work full-time in a rural setting.
- Ability to work well in a dynamic team environment alongside health workers, support staff and patients from a variety of backgrounds.
- A strong interest in clinical medicine and for delivering compassionate care to patients.
- A strong interest in learning social medicine; that is, a willingness to look at diseases of poverty through a wide 'biopsychosocial' lens that draws upon knowledge from a wealth of disciplines including clinical medicine, sociology, anthropology and public health.
- If Malawian, active registration with the Medical Council of Malawi by the time of the agreed-to job start date.
