REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER /PSYCHIATRIST |  |
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
United States Department of State
An Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply
AMENDMENT
Announcement No: FSRMO/P-03-01
Opening Date: January 7, 2007
Closing Date: Indefinite
Position Title: FOREIGN SERVICE REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER /PSYCHIATRIST
Grade and Starting Salary Range: FP-1, Steps 1-14 $95,390 - $124,010
Physicians Comparability Allowance (PCA): $14,000.00 - 30,000.00
Additional Benefits: Tax-Free Housing Overseas; Tax-Free Educational Allowance Overseas, etc. (See "Compensation and Benefits" for more information.)
Number of Vacancies: The Department of State is developing a rank-order List of Eligible Hires to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist vacancies. The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service.
Area of Consideration: All sources. Applicants must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 21 and 59 and able to qualify for a top secret security clearance.
Location: Individuals must be willing to serve worldwide. Generally, following a brief orientation period at the Department of State in Washington, D. C., newly hired Foreign Service Medical Officer/Psychiatrists will serve an initial two year tour at a Foreign Service post overseas and will usually spend an average of 80 percent of their careers stationed abroad, moving at two-to-four year intervals. The remainder of their time spent will be spent in the Department of State in Washington, D. C.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Serving in support of the employees of the United States government and their eligible family members, the Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist (RMO/P) may work independently or in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel. The RMO/P duties include implementing the following procedures at each post of responsibility:
- Provide primary psychiatric care for each post in the RMO/P's geographical region.
- Coordinate medical evacuation of patients from post to appropriate treatment facilities.
- Regularly visit all overseas posts within the RMO/P's geographical region to provide direct patient care and preventive mental health programs relevant to Foreign Service communities.
- Provide crisis intervention in situations such as terrorist incidents, political disturbances, or natural disasters where USG personnel are involved.
- Provide consultations to health unit staffs, post management, and community schools at regional posts and the RMO/P's post of assignment.
- Advise post management on mental health issues and morale problems affecting Foreign Service communities.
- Assist each post in the identification, evaluation and selection of competent local mental health care providers.
- Assist other Foreign Service health professionals in the management of medical problems as needed.
Foreign Service Medical Officers/Psychiatrists are considered "essential personnel" and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
THE REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER/PSYCHIATRIST CAREER
The Office of Medical Services in the Department of State maintains and promotes the health of employees and their accompanying family members who represent United States government agencies abroad. The Department assigns Foreign Service Medical Officers/Psychiatrists, Medical Officers, Health Practitioners, and Medical Technologists to selected posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards. The Foreign Service Medical Officer/Psychiatrist is responsible for providing mental health care to members of the official American community in several countries within a regional geographic area.
Regional Medical Officers/Psychiatrists are presently serving in Accra, Bangkok, Cairo, Lima, Nairobi, London, Mexico City, Moscow, New Delhi, Pretoria, Tokyo, Vienna, and the District of Columbia. While the preference of an applicant for a particular post or area of assignment is given every possible consideration, assignments are dictated by "the needs of the service."
COMPENSATION AND TENURE
The salary range for RMO/P is FP-01, Step 1 through 14. The salary is dependent on such factors as graduate level education and directly-related specialized experience not used to satisfy qualifications criteria. Salary level will be determined at the time of a conditional offer of employment. To be creditable, such education and specialized experience must be in excess to that which is required to qualify as described under education and specialized experience requirements and will be determined at the time of a conditional offer of employment. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on highest previous rate as a Federal employee.
The Department of State has current authority from the Office of Management and Budget to enter into agreement with psychiatrists enabling allowances of $30,000 a year to full-time physicians with more than five years of Federal service, $22,000 a year to full-time physicians with more than 2 years of Federal service, and $14,000 to those with less than two years of Federal service. Federal service must have been as a physician.
EDUCATION
- One in-grade step increase may be given for the first (and only the first) graduate degree below the doctoral level in a work-related field, awarded before the date of appointment.
- Two additional steps may be given for a doctoral degree in a work-related field, awarded before the date of the appointment.
- One step for a masters degree from an accredited college or university in public health
EXPERIENCE
- Two steps for board certified in Psychiatry and/or Neurology or other appropriate areas of board certification, which after evaluation and review are deemed appropriate to the needs of the Service. In addition, the psychiatrist receives at least 10 hours of category 1 CME credit through an annual State Department-sponsored continuing medical education program. RMO/Ps are considered for promotion annually in competition with others in their specialty, and have the promotion headroom to achieve senior Foreign Service ranks. Foreign Service career candidates are considered for tenure by a tenuring board after they acquire a minimum of three years experience in the Foreign Service as a specialist career candidate.
MEDICAL CREDENTIALING & INDEMNIFICATION
Applicants are subject to a medical credentialing process conducted by the Quality Improvement Staff of the Office of Medical Services. The medical credentialing process includes queries of the National Practitioner Data Bank and Physician Data Profile through the American Medical Association (AMA). Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the general requirements for employment in the Foreign Service, an applicant must have a Doctor of Medicine degree or equivalent degree at the time of appointment, as stipulated below, and be able to pass a writing skills assessment which may be conducted following successful completion of the initial review stage and qualifications review panel. The panel will recommend the most competitive candidates be invited to take a proctored writing examination. The ability to draft an essay which will demonstrate a command of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation will be an important consideration to participate in an oral assessment, which is explained further in the enclosed supplement, "Information and Benefits for Foreign Service Specialists."
| Grade Level | Salary Range | Education | Specialized Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP-01 | $95,390 - $124,010 | Doctor of Medicine | 5 Years or equivalency |
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
DEGREE: Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree from a school in the United States or Canada approved by a recognized accrediting body in the year of the applicant's graduation. A Doctor of Medicine degree or equivalency degree from a foreign medical school that provided educational and medical knowledge substantially equivalent to accredited schools in the United States may be demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed premedical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign county.
GRADUATE TRAINING: The applicant must have completed an internship and psychiatric residency training program approved by a recognized accrediting body within the United States or Canada.
LICENSURE AND BOARD CERTIFICATION
Applicants must have a current, valid, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Applications will not be accepted from psychiatrists who are not currently licensed. The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology must currently certify applicants in psychiatry. Board must certification and re-certification must be maintained.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have a minimum of five (5) years of post-residency clinical experience in adult or child/adolescent psychiatry with at least 50% of the applicant's time involved in direct patient care during the last 5 years.
Applicants with only four years of clinical experience beyond residency may apply for a position, in anticipation of completing the five-year requirement at the time of appointment. Such experience will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Applicants must be able to sufficiently integrate clinical, administrative and management skills to effectively meet the mental health needs of U.S. Foreign Service employees and their eligible family members assigned overseas. Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrists must be skilled and experienced clinicians able to gain the confidence of their patients, co-workers and supervisors, and capable of working independently in complex and difficult situations. Applicants must be able to recognize and treat a wide range of mental health disorders and manage the special challenges of providing care to a diverse population, scattered over a large geographical area where local medical and mental health resources may be limited or not-existent. Clinical experience in child/adolescent psychiatric, marital/family therapy, cross cultural psychiatry, crisis intervention and substance abuse is desirable.
The applicant must be able to provide expert consultation and guidance to Foreign Service Medical Officers and other health practitioners with varying backgrounds and levels of training. Applicants with experience in team building, leadership, and management in a multidisciplinary setting are preferred. Applicants must have effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to present findings in a clear and concise manner to both medical and non-medical personnel. Public speaking skills as well as knowledge and hands-on familiarity of computer systems and software are also desirable qualities.
The RMO/P's patient population is unique because of background and lifestyle as part of a diplomatic community overseas. This population also differs in terms of clinical and administrative needs and the national security concerns inherent in their employment. Therefore, at least one (1) overseas assignment as a Foreign Service Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist is preferable. A thorough understanding of the unique needs of the Department and the rigors of Foreign Service life is also preferred.
Purpose: To allow an opportunity to describe your experiences that relate to the required skills which best show your ability to accomplish the work of the Foreign Service Medical Officer/Psychiatrist.
Instructions: Using plain white paper and either a typewriter or word processor, individually address each of the numbered items listed below, limiting responses to 200 words or less for each item. The writing should be double-spaced. Examples can be drawn from any part of your experience, but must reflect personal accomplishments. You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills required of an experienced Medical Officer/Psychiatrist is the ability to write clearly and concisely.
- Organizational Abilities: Describe a specific achievement demonstrating your planning and organizational skills in the setting of a multidisciplinary mental health team or practice.
- Leadership and Teamwork Abilities: Discuss your abilities to participate as a team member working toward a common goal, as well as examples of your ability to lead a team in the accomplishment of a goal.
- Public Speaking and Teaching Ability: Describe specific examples demonstrating your public speaking and teaching abilities as part of an assignment or work-related task.
- Crisis Management Skills: Describe at least one example in which your skills as a crisis manager significantly contributed to the positive outcome of a complex or difficult clinical situation.
PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING
The following numbered materials are required for a complete application package. They become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned. All items listed must be submitted together. To receive these documents via e-mail please send a message to medhr@state.gov.
- Completed application for Federal Employment (DS-1950) included.
- Completed employment data form included. This form is found on pages 6 & 7 of Form DS-1950. This is an optional form, which requests information to be used for statistical purposes only.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Copy of Medical License, Medical Degree and verification of highest level of medical training.
- Official transcripts , plus any other documentation which includes all courses taken, grades, semester or quarter hours earned, cumulative grade point averages for all courses taken, class standing/s, and major.
- Proof of psychiatric residency training.
- Copy of certification in psychiatry by the Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
- Copy of completion of residency.
- Proof of board certification.
- Completed supplementary questionnaire.
All applications materials should be submitted and addressed to:
U.S. Department of State
Office of Medical Services
Attention: MED PERSONELL
SA 1 Room L-209
2401 E Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20522-0102
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (202) 663-1084.
While this vacancy announcement shall remain open indefinitely, applications will be considered as the completed package arrives in the Department. The Department of State will be hiring a number of candidates. Please note that the average processing time for an application is 7-9 months, including the completion of the credentialing, medical and security clearances.