The International Family AIDS Progam (IFAP)

Closing date: 31 Oct 2008
Location: Dominican Republic (the) - La Romana

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Caribbean, after sub- Sahara Africa, is the most HIV- impacted region in the world with approximately 80% of people living with HIV in the Caribbean residing on the island of Hispaniola (comprised of Haiti and the Dominican Republic). HIV/AIDS remains a leading cause of infant and child mortality and is the principal cause of death for women of childbearing age on an island where more HIV- affected infants and children live than in any other area in the Western Hemisphere.

As a response to this ongoing epidemic, Clínica de Familia MIR, with generous funding from Columbia University and a private donor, seeks a Pediatric HIV/AIDS Education, Prevention, and Treatment Clinical Consultant to be based in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

JOB SUMMARY:

A pediatrician or general practitioner trained in the care of HIV- affected children and family- based treatment is sought to work in La Romana, Dominican Republic. IFAP, through its partner Clínica Familia MIR, provides direct care and treatment for over one thousand HIV- affected children, mothers and fathers in La Romana. With principal funding from Columbia University, MIR Charities, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consejo Presidencial del SIDA (COPRESIDA, the Dominican Presidential AIDS Commission), the Clínica de Familia MIR has become a Center of Excellence in the Dominican Republic, and a model of AIDS care for the Caribbean.

COMMUNITY FEATURES:

This opportunity is based in La Romana, Dominican Republic, one hour east of Santo Domingo. La Romana is a medium- size urban city on the coast. The economy is based on tourism and the sugar cane industry. There are a variety of restaurants, a high quality supermarket, a local running trail, and a gym available in the city. Most key locations are within walking distance of the clinic, but public transportation is readily available.

CLÍNICA DE FAMILIA MIR:

This family AIDS clinic is a collaborative program of the Fundación MIR, a charity in La Romana that seeks to rescue children from poverty through education and health care, and the Columbia University IFAP. It grew out of a close collaboration with the Adoratrices nuns, a Roman Catholic community from Spain, who started Complejo Micaeliano in 1988. Clínica de Familia MIR was the first program in the Dominican Republic to offer antiretroviral therapy to pregnant women to prevent vertical HIV transmission (1999) and was one of the first sites to begin treating children and adults with long- term antiretroviral therapy (2004). Clínica de Familia MIR ranks second in the number of children and adults on AIDS therapy in the country.

BENEFITS:

Housing in- country will be provided. An annual stipend of $40,000 is offered. Partial medical benefit assistance included.

CONTRACT TERM:

A minimum commitment of one year is required to be consideration for this consultancy.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Provide developmentally and age- appropriate family centered care for HIV- infected children and adolescents as well as HIV- exposed newborns
- Take personal histories and provide physical exams
- Provide specialized preventative care to HIV- exposed newborns and infants

PROGRAMMATIC GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Assist, in collaboration with national and regional maternal and infant mortality prevention initiatives, in capacity- building programming for family and pediatric primary and HIV/AIDS care
- Increase the percentage of pregnant women with HIV infection who receive highly- active antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and are delivered by cesarean section
- Decrease the infant mortality rate among HIV- prenatally exposed infants
- Increase the percentage of HIV- infected infants and children under the age of 16 who receive highly- active antiretroviral treatment
- Increase the percentage of pediatric patients with HIV infection who start HAART before they are one year old

RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Participate in ongoing monitoring and evaluation initiatives
- Collaborate on prevention research activities to assess program effectiveness and eventual impact

EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Act as primary preceptor for rotating United States based medical students and residents
- Coordinate with the clinical team in teaching classroom sessions as needed
- Coordinate with clinical team in developing collaborations with other programs as required
- Provide specialized prevention training alongside Dominican healthcare professionals to international and Dominican healthcare professionals

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

- Completed residency in pediatrics, medicine- pediatrics, or family medicine
- Experience working successfully and sensitively with professionals and patients in a multi- cultural environment
- Fluent in English and Spanish, verbal and written

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Three years post- graduate pediatric experience
- Board eligible or certified pediatrician, family practitioner, or medical/pediatric residency program graduate
- Medical license in home country

DESIRED QUALITIES:

- Ability to work well in a team
- Computer literate
- Critical thinking and analytical skills
- Diplomacy
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
- Excellent time management skills, patience
- Experience working with HIV/AIDS patients and families
- MPH
- Professional character
- Previous tropical medicine work experience in a resource- low community

How to apply