Position Available
for:
Duke-Engineering World Health Summer Institute
On The Ground Coordinator and Teaching Assistant
Description
Dates of
employment:
Durham, NC; Part
time
January 2013 – May
2013
In Country
Assignment; full time:
Tanzania: June 9th
– August 24th
Nicaragua: May 15th-
August 4th
Summer
Institute Description:
Since 2001, the EWH
Summer Institute (SI) has provided young engineers with the chance to live in a
developing country with a local family, learn a new language and use newly
acquired technical skills to improve health care in the community. One month of
training is followed by a month of service in a local hospital during which
participants install and repair medical equipment, train the staff, take
inventory, solve problems and perform other engineering duties.
The On The Ground
Coordinator/Teaching Assistant (OTGC/TA) will assist with teaching students,
maintaining local relationships, technical troubleshooting, and various SI
preparation tasks. The OTGC/TA will be joined by an instructor during the first
month in country and by an additional OTGC second month in country.
Responsibilities
The OTGC/TA is the
primary coordinator for the assigned country (Nicaragua or Tanzania) working
with the EWH SI Coordinator, Duke SI Director, and staff at Duke Engage. The
position is a combination of two roles; Teaching Assistant for the technical
laboratory and On The Ground Coordinator to administer other aspects of the
program. During the spring semester (January – May) the OTGC/TA is responsible
for:
- Maintaining
contact with host hospitals and confirming hospital and homestay
readiness. - Preparing
student documentation. - Participating
in TA, OTGC and Duke Engage training. - Assisting
with other country specific SI tasks (Emails, answering student questions,
arrival preparations etc…).
The spring semester
time period of employment will be on a part time basis requiring approximately
80 hrs of commitment throughout the semester. The OTGC/TA is expected to reside
in the Durham, NC area and to be available for in-person training at the Duke,
EWH and Duke Engage offices.
The in country
assignment (summer) is a full time position for two and a half months. The
OTGC/TA will arrive one week before the SI begins to make preparations for
student arrival: visiting hospitals and homestays to ensure readiness,
purchasing supplies etc… Once the SI has begun, he/she is responsible for
the afternoon,
3-hour laboratories, where students learn to construct, debug and repair power
supplies and basic skills for assembly and dis-assembly of several pieces of
medical equipment. On Fridays, the OTGC/TA and the Instructor will travel to a
local hospital with the entire class to spend the day repairing equipment. All
afternoon and Friday instruction is given in English.
The OTGC/TA is
responsible for dealing with problems as they arise. This may include housing,
illness, behaviour and other situations that need immediate and on-the-ground
attention. This position requires a background check in order to serve in the
capacity of an OTGC/TA.
After the one month
of training the OTGC/TA role will shift to assist the students in their
hospitals. The OTGC/TA is expected to:
- regularly
visit host hospitals to check on students and be available 24/7 by cell
phone (provided by EWH) in case of emergencies. - travel
between hospitals to visit students to help with difficult fixes and check
in with EWH host hospitals. - maintain
contact with participants to ensure that the Summer Institute is a
positive experience. - maintain
contact with administrative parties (EWH, Duke, Duke Engage) to relay
concerns and updates. - lead
the end of program conference.
Post SI, the OTGC/TA
will remain in country for approximately one week if available to perform
hospital satisfaction surveys and make other preparations for the following
year.
Skills/Qualifications
- Great
leadership, communication, and organizational skills. - Engineering/Technical
Degree or significant experience troubleshooting and working on devices
with electronic components. - Ability
to speak in front of and lead groups of students. - Spanish
language skills (Nicaragua). - Experience
travelling in developing countries a big plus.
You MUST submit to a
background check for this position.
Compensation: This
is a paid position for the indicated responsibilities. Preference will be given
to candidates who are available to work on other tasks throughout the year.
Details given upon inquiry.
How
to apply
Please see our
website, www.ewh.org/si, or contact Ben Fleishman with any further questions.
If you are interested in applying you may submit your resume and cover letter
to si@ewh.org.
Contact: Ben
Fleishman,
Summer Institute Coordinator, bfleishman@ewh.org