Lead Crew Physician

Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.

About this role

This is your chance to take your practice onboard one of our Ships. The Lead Crew Physician coordinates and provides routine, general medical care for the crew and day crew as needed, consults on care of surgical inpatients and referrals, coordinates the emergency medical response team, and oversees the Crew Clinic. A  2-year minimum commitment is preferred: however a shorter commitment of 10 months

will be considered for qualified candidates

What you will contribute

• Provide routine medical consultations and

treatment for crew.

• Provide emergency care for crew and day

crew, as needed.

• Provide or arrange for regular check-ups

for the crew with conditions requiring monitoring.

• Advise crew in obtaining consultations

for medical problems or routine screening (e.g., mammograms, cervical

smears, etc.) that are not manageable or provided onboard.

• Provide after-hours service to crew and wards as

part of the Duty Physician roster.

• Collaborate with the Hospital Physicians and Chief

Medical Officer on difficult medical cases of crew members and hospital

patients.

• Review TB screening chest X-rays of

incoming day crew in cooperation with the radiology firm.

Support

• Oversee the Emergency Medical Team and

participate in the hospital and emergency team call schedule.  

• Work in conjunction with the Captain to

ensure proper health and safety of the crew. Provide documentation and

reporting as needed.

• Attend and participate in Hospital and

physician meetings or functions as requested.

• Speak at local Hospital meetings, and

visit hospitals when requested.

• Provide health education to the crew by

presenting topics of interest or necessity at community gatherings.

• Prepare for sailing – ensure compliance

with maritime laws and safety protocols (e.g., Declaration of Health,

complete minimum sailing list requirements, secure Crew Clinic for

sailing, stock medicines needed for the annual maintenance period, etc.).

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the

Company Safety Management System for the performance of assigned duties.

• Actively participate in maintaining and

improving quality standards of patient care.

Administrative

• Manage Crew Clinic staff, ensuring work is completed in

a safe and timely manner with the highest level of excellence.

• Maintain standards, complete performance reviews, and

consider time off requests against current and projected staffing levels

within the Crew Clinic.

• Collaborate with the medical review team from the

International Support Center to review applicant health information as

needed.

• Coordinate with People & Culture at the

International Support Center for recruitment and placement of volunteers

in the Crew Clinic. 

For This Role, You Will Need

• Successful completion of the Mercy Ships On Boarding Program will be required, if commitment is longer than 12 months.

• M.D. or D.O. with current unrestricted license or

recognized medical qualification in country of origin, actively practicing

in the last 12 months.

• Two years of post-graduate clinical experience is

required, with specialization in General Practice, Family Medicine, or

Internal Medicine (Emergency Medicine physicians may be considered based

on experience and practice pattern).

• Successful completion of Basic Training in accordance

with STCW A-VI/1-1 to 1-4, as required per maritime law. This training will be

provided by Mercy Ships

• Supportive of Mercy Ship’s mission and vision and

committed to its core values.

• Understand and apply servant leadership, work

collaboratively with integrity, and demonstrate accountability.

• Able to live in and contribute to community life,

requiring stable and healthy interpersonal skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are

required.

• Excellent organizational skills are required.

• Fluent in English, both verbal and written.

• Must have superior relational skills.

• Ability to respond to requests and obtain information

in a timely manner.

• Proficiency in computer applications, particularly in

M365 – Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint.

The experience of a lifetime is calling.

More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.

At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.

Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve — and your own.