Summary
The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Regional Medical Officer (RMO) positions. Learn more about Foreign Service careers at https://careers.state.gov.
There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.
Duties
A Regional Medical Officer (RMO) works either independently or as a member of a team of FS Medical Specialists to provide medical support for USG employees and their eligible family members (EFMs).
An RMO is considered essential personnel and is expected to be available on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. RMO's duties may include, but are not limited to:
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Clinical Responsibilities
- All Medical Specialists working with the Bureau of Medical Services must be willing to provide primary care services and counseling to all patients regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, disease, disability, or religion.
- Provide direct primary and preventive healthcare for pediatric, obstetric, and adult patients, including emergency and acute care services.
- Perform patient histories and physical examinations.
- Order and analyses diagnostic tests.
- Prescribe medications.
- Perform therapeutic procedures within the scope of primary and emergency care.
- Administer routine, seasonal, travel, and service-related vaccines.
- Coordinate telemedicine consultations. Coordinate inpatient care and monitoring of patients hospitalized in region.
- Provide/oversee occupational health services for all staff members.
- Act as patient advocate when needed.
- Arrange 24-hour care when necessary.
- Manage infectious disease risks, especially malaria and other tropical diseases.
- Advise on disease prevention, especially regional diseases.
- Respond to allegations of abuse.
- Perform sexual assault examinations.
- Serve as forensics subject matter expert in case of death.
- Collaborate with the regional medical officer/psychiatrist (these are psychiatrists also employed by DOS).
- Ensure safe blood supply for critical care/trauma management.
- Teach basic life support.
- Review local pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, doctors, laboratories, and hospitals.
- Provide occupational health care.
- Promote healthy adjustment to lifestyle and culture for Diplomats and family members.
- Establish wellness and lifestyle programs.
- Maintain personal credentials, licensure, and continuing medical education.
- Report adverse actions, claims, or licensure issues to the governing office within the Department (Office of Quality Management).
- Capable of assessing and caring for all people equitably without regard to ableness, gender, sexual orientation, race, or other potential biases in order to provide the same standard of care to all patients.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain and preserve appropriate medical documentation, including full use of electronic health records and other systems.
- Maintain scrupulous attention to privacy and confidentiality. Supervise and support regional health unit professionals.
- Hire, manage, and supervise local employees.
- Maintain an inventory of supplies, including overseeing controlled substances.
- Communicate regularly with post community and its leadership.
- Ensure universal precautions and all OSHA required lab standards.
- Provide consultation to other medical staff.
- Develop training programs for health unit staff and other post staff members as required.
- Set budget priorities.
- Ensure food and water safety; including facility inspections when indicated.
- Provide medical leadership in crises.
- Provide emergency medical care.
- Advise post leadership in crises.
- Coordinate post's epidemic medical response.
- Serve on emergency action committee.
- Update the emergency action plan.
- Ensure emergency preparedness.
Embassy or State Department Specific Responsibilities
- Arrange medical evacuations and oversee care for patients awaiting evacuation.
- Liaise with other regional medical officers and with local and international experts to support patient care.
- Perform regional travel to support other Consulates/Embassies.
- Advise ambassador on medical matters.
- Support all the post's occupational safety efforts including supporting the Post Safety and Health Officer (POSHO) in the Facilities office with regard to reporting of adverse occurrences.
- Communicate with medical headquarters in Washington.
- Participate in medical clearance decisions.
- Interface with local healthcare officials.
- Serve on "country team" as medical expert.
- Represent interests of the United States Government to host government.
- Organize medical representational events.
- Ensure health-unit security.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the FS.
- Be able to obtain/maintain a Top-Secret Security Clearance.
- Be able to meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
- Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.
- Be at least 20 years old at application and 21 years old to be appointed.
- Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).
Essential Physical Requirements
The most important physical requirements of the job are speaking, hearing, vision, mental endurance, tolerance for extreme environmental conditions, physical endurance, dexterity, and mobility.
RMOs may need to perform essential functions effectively in environments that pose physical or other occupational challenges. These duties may include:
- Provision of direct patient care that may require heavy lifting, pulling, stooping, bending and twisting in tight and limited spaces.
- Travelling independently to posts utilizing commercial air carriers, military aircraft, or other transportation types that may not offer special access or accommodations.
- Provision of emergency care in any location following an accident, natural disaster, or attack in potentially hostile or physically challenging environments, such as in buildings without elevators or in areas with irregular spaces that require kneeling, bending, stooping, lifting, walking and running over uneven terrain.
- Transportation of self or patients via small aircraft, helicopters, ambulances, or other non-standard modes of transportation with small entrances and high floors, such as high axle armored vehicles.
Licensure and Board Certification
The candidate must be currently board certified in Family Practice (preferred) or Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine (accepted) by the American Board of Medical Specialties or Osteopathic Board. American Board certification and re-certification, state medical licensure, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration must be maintained for the duration of employment. Once hired, the candidate will be required to obtain and maintain a District of Columbia license.
Specialized Experience: (8000-character limit)
The candidate must have a minimum of five (5) years of full-time post-residency clinical experience within the past seven (7) years, in providing primary care to adults, children, and infants, with at least 75% of the time involved in direct patient care. Otherwise qualified clinicians who have practiced primarily emergency medicine, hospital based practice or other non-ambulatory settings must demonstrate thorough understanding of primary care practice fundamentals as defined in the next paragraph.
"Primary care" encompasses adult and pediatric diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and management of chronic diseases, routine gynecologic care, prenatal care, adult health maintenance and preventive health care, well child care and immunization management. It embraces the total family unit across the lifespan, including emotional and physical aspects that impact overall well-being. The primary care physician utilizes and coordinates sub-specialty professional consultations when needed.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The Department has conducted extensive job analysis research to determine Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and other attributes conducive to successful performance in this position. A candidate's education level, work experience, and other qualifications will be considered as part of the hiring decision-making process based on these KSA criteria.
The candidate must have demonstrated a high degree of clinical and management expertise. The patient population covered 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. Previous experience working in an occupational setting and/or in an overseas setting is advantageous.
The candidate must demonstrate the ability to manage administrative aspects of an HU as well as the ability to cope with extraordinary medical crises, often in remote and isolated settings. Education and experience must demonstrate that the candidate can function as a public/community health provider.
The candidate must be a skilled and experienced primary health care practitioner with excellent interpersonal skills. The candidate must be able to function well within a complex organization and have experience working in a high stress environment. They can also recognize and understand the problems of delivering healthcare to Americans posted in locations where local medical resources are limited or non-existent. The ability to logically and objectively analyze patient problems, and apply sound clinical judgment is required. Experience in providing long distance triage and care via electronic communications such as telephone, telemedicine, radio, and e-mail is preferred.
The candidate must have the capacity to gain the cooperation and confidence of patients, co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates. Individuals must have experience working in a multidisciplinary practice as well as experience in team building, leadership, and management. Effective written and oral communication skills are essential, as well as the ability to present medical findings in a clear and concise manner to medical and non-medical personnel. Demonstrated ability to teach or lecture to groups on medical issues is preferred.
The candidate must be able to develop, coordinate, and administer health care delivery programs. These include but are not limited to individual and community health promotion and disease prevention programs to include teaching health topics to both small and large groups. The candidate must provide comprehensive health assessments and medical care to individuals and families across the lifespan.
the candidate must be able to organize and supervise a diverse group of health care providers with varying degrees of expertise, education, and command of English. The candidate must understand the unique cultural differences related to health care delivery in varied countries and address these differences in a positive manner. The candidate must be able to assess, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases within the scope of primary care.
The candidate must possess a high degree of integrity, decisiveness and fairness in order to equitably apply the regulations and policies of the medical program to all eligible persons.
Knowledge and hands-on familiarity with computer systems are preferred.
Specific medical knowledge areas required for successful job performance include pediatrics, orthopedics, vaccines, infectious diseases, gynecology, gastroenterology, dermatology, emergency techniques, clinical pharmacology, laboratory medicine, obstetrics, general surgery, psychiatry, health-related environmental factors, alcoholism and drug abuse, pulmonology, urology, radiology, otorhinolaryngology, occupational medicine, food and water safety, epidemiology, air quality, health insurance, and medical information resources.
Specific medical skills required by the job include medical history-taking, physical examination, planning of evaluation and treatment, electrocardiography, operating medical equipment, minor surgery, triage, intravenous access, medical communication, data interpretation, research techniques, and medical software use.
Management skills required by the job include staff supervision, training and development of employees, mentoring, time management, management of personnel, financial, and other resources, including working with limited resources, and managing a diverse staff in terms of cultures, backgrounds, and skills.
Personal skills required by the job include reading comprehension, active listening, active learning, oral and written communication, public speaking, complex problem identification, critical thinking, judgment and decision making, social perceptiveness, interpersonal skills, giving critical feedback, persuasion, service orientation, monitoring, coordination, and process operation and control.
Other attributes required by the job include compassionate, unflappable, self-confident, firm convictions, independent but integrated with the department, interest in continuous learning and change, interest in foreign service work, tolerance of on-call and emergency demands, tolerance of travel, worldwide available, and tolerance of living away from family.
Further desirable attributes include a willingness to deploy to high threat environments to provide care and consultation to USG employees and EFMs, ability to consult with senior leaders, officials, and EFMs with tact. Recognizing the limited role of the physician in a non-medical organizational environment, capability to work effectively with colleagues from other cultures, and ability to create supportive and effective professional relationships in overseas environments.
Openness to an international career: Accepting assignments based on the needs of the Foreign Service, experiencing frequent global travel.
Education
At the time of application, applicants must possess:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from a university in the U.S. or Canada that was approved by a recognized U.S. accrediting body in the year of the applicant's graduation.
- MD or DO or equivalent degree from a foreign school that provided educational and medical knowledge substantially equivalent to accredited schools in the U.S. This equivalency may be demonstrated by either permanent certification of the applicant's school by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or a Fifth Pathway Certificate.
You must submit a copy of your university transcript(s) with your application. If you do not submit this documentation to demonstrate your educational achievements, your candidacy will not continue. Please review below the full list of required documents.
Official or unofficial transcripts may be submitted with your application. Your transcript must include your name, the school's name, the degree and date awarded, and have no missing pages. A transcript missing any of these elements will not pass the minimum qualifications and the candidacy will not continue. Copies of diplomas may not be submitted in lieu of transcripts for education above high school level. PDF documents are strongly recommended; illegible documents will not be accepted.
Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited at the time of program completion by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation.
Education completed in foreign high schools, colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Only accredited organizations recognized as specializing in the interpretation of foreign education credentials that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) are accepted. If documentation from an accredited organization is not provided, your candidacy will not continue.
NACES: https://www.naces.org/index
AICE: https://aice-eval.org/
For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, please refer to the Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of State neither endorses nor recommends any individual evaluation service.
OPM: www.opm.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Additional information
EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) - Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
U.S. law requires organizations to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States - either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee's information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated.
The Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov/.
For more information about Veteran's Preference and how it is applied in the selection process, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/about/diversity-inclusion/veterans-program-office/.
No applicant will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under sections §607, §608, §610 or §611 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions. In addition, no applicant will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section §306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof.
A Foreign Service Specialist separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section 306 may not re-apply to be a Foreign Service Specialist in the same skill code but may apply for another skill code or to be a Foreign Service Generalist.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors.
The Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to qualified candidates with disabilities. Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodations in advance. For more information visit https://careers.state.gov/faq-items/what-is-the-assessment-centers-policy-on-reasonable-accommodations-for-persons-with-disabilities-or-those-who-have-medical-conditions-or-other-needs-such-as-the-use-of-medical-devices-or-acc/.
For information on FS Salary, visit https://careers.state.gov/faqs/faqs-wiki/foreign-service-salary-matching-pay-tables-danger-pay-overseas-moving-expenses-and-taxes.
Please visit https://careers.state.gov/med for more information on Foreign Service medical careers.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits.
Benefits include health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, and paid leave. Overseas benefits include tax-free housing and tax-free education allowance for dependent children between K-12 overseas, and an unrivaled opportunity to see the world and experience different cultures.
The salary range listed is extracted from the Foreign Service Overseas and Washington pay scales. The starting step is determined in part by the highest education level achieved and specialized experience beyond minimum qualifications. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on their highest previous rate as a federal employee. For information on salary, please visit https://careers.state.gov/benefits/benefits/.
Physicians Comparability Allowance (PCA): $14,000.00 - $30,000.00
The Department of State has authority from the Office of Management and Budget enabling allowances for full-time Federal service as physicians:- $30,000 a year to full-time physicians with more than five years of Federal servicey.
- $22,000 a year to full-time physicians with more than two years of Federal service.
- $14,000 to those with less than two years of Federal service.
Candidates are eligible for a 10% recruitment bonus and a 10% retention bonus.
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
RMOs receive at least 25 hours of Category 1 CME credit through an annual State Department-sponsored Continuing Medical Education conference.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials to include responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response. Candidates must create their own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. The Department analyzes candidate submissions for plagiarism and will discontinue any individual's candidacy if found to have violated this plagiarism policy.
While the Department of State encourages candidates to create their narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The Department will discontinue any individual's candidacy if found to have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application process.
Medical Credentialing and Indemnification
Candidates are subject to a credential verification process conducted by the Quality Management Staff Unit of the Bureau of Medical Services. This process includes query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and independent verification of state licenses and national certifications. Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act, so long as they are acting within their scope of work.
Active Bureau of Medical Services clinical privileges, specific to the position, are a condition of employment for all Foreign Service Medical Specialists.
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