Join the International Medical Corps Emergency Response Deployment Roster
For more information, contact Carolyn Baer, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Health at FSM: c-baer@northwestern.edu.
The Center for Global Health has worked with the International Medical Corps (IMC) in the past, especially during the emergency response after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. While we do not have a formal arrangement with IMC, we do direct Northwestern medical personnel who are interested in emergency response to IMC as it is a well-organized and trusted organization. Your participation in IMC's Emergency Response Deployment Roster is independent of the Center for Global Health and it is your responsibility to get guidance from the leadership of your unit about allowances for your participation. If you have any questions regarding Northwestern's relationship with IMC, please contact Carolyn Baer, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Health, at c-baer@northwestern.edu.
About International Medical Corps (IMC)
Every day, International Medical Corps (IMC) makes a direct and lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable people all around the world. Since 1984, IMC has served on the front lines of global emergencies to relieve suffering caused by famine, disease, conflict and disaster. In nearly 70 countries, IMC has saved tens of millions of lives while training millions of local health care workers to build self-reliance.
You can be part of this life-changing lifesaving work by joining IMC's Emergency Response Deployment Roster. The Roster includes humanitarian and medical professionals who are ready and willing to deploy when disaster strikes. This enables IMC to find the right people in the shortest possible time and mount timely responses to emergency situations, which is absolutely critical for saving lives.
Who can join the Roster?
The Emergency Response Deployment Roster includes humanitarian workers with technical expertise in an array of issues, such as water and sanitation, shelter, child-protection, food and nutrition and social work. IMC also recruits American and European medical volunteers, from orthopedic surgeons to ER nurses. These experienced and skilled professionals are well prepared for emergency work, and can quickly mobilize local communities and manage international aid effectively. To be part of the Roster, you should have practical specialized experience, as well as the ability to cope with unfamiliar and challenging environments and work in either culturally diverse teams or independently.
As an Emergency Response Deployment Roster member, what will I do?
Roster members carry out a wide range of tasks in the field, including:
- emergency needs assessments
- emergency health facility setup
- logistical support for emergency teams (communications, transport, accommodation, facilities, etc.)
- project planning, contract management and reporting
- staff training and capacity building with local partners and government personnel
- community mobilization and social services
- humanitarian coordination (cluster meetings, liaising with government agencies and NGOs, etc.)
- humanitarian protection and advocacy
- reconstruction and rehabilitation
- monitoring and evaluation
What would my time commitment be?
All Roster members should be ready to deploy within 48 hours of notification. IMC asks for a two-week minimum commitment for medical volunteers. Assignments often involve taking leave from a permanent job, however those who choose to pursue a career in humanitarian relief may do regular field placements with International Medical Corps. Deployments for International Medical Corps staff are usually short-term, with a maximum period of three months.
Is the Roster right for me?
To help you determine whether International Medical Corps' Emergency Response Deployment Roster is the right fit for you, consider the following:
- What motivates you to want to do humanitarian work?
- Would you prefer to work in emergency response or community development?
- How do your skills and experience match the requirements of International Medical Corps?
- What are your key competencies?
- Are you prepared to work in a cross-cultural team, under difficult living conditions in potentially dangerous contexts?
What happens if I am accepted to the Roster?
If accepted to the Roster, you will be required to provide additional administrative documents, such as medical certificates, passport copies, vaccination records and human resources paperwork. You will also be asked to complete various online trainings and watch IMC's Emergency Response Induction video. Once all of your documents are received, your information will be submitted to International Medical Corps' Emergency Response Unit. Actual deployment depends on your suitability for the roles for which IMC receives requests, your availability, and the judgment of the Emergency Response Unit.
More information
For more information and examples of the emergency response work that has been undertaken by IMC, download the IMC Emergency Response brochure.
How do I apply?
To apply to International Medical Corps' Emergency Response Deployment Roster, please visit: http://careers.internationalmedicalcorps.org/careers.aspx.
This page last updated Apr 11, 2012