MEDICAL OFFICER GRADE 1 TO 3 (CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY) (5/8TH)

This position offers a unique opportunity for a qualified medical practitioner to contribute to the care of cardiothoracic surgical patients at Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory, without the typical demands of ward rounds, theatre lists, on-call rosters, or emergency clinical duties. Instead, the role focuses on the structured coordination of patient flow between the Division of Cardiology and the Chris Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The post-holder will act as a central link, managing triage, referrals, and waiting-list oversight, while also playing a key part in departmental governance, quality improvement, and multidisciplinary team discussions. This is a graded medical officer post, with entry levels determined by years of appropriate experience after registration as a Medical Practitioner with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). South African qualified applicants need no prior experience for Grade 1, while Grade 2 requires five years and Grade 3 requires ten years; slightly different experience thresholds apply to foreign-qualified applicants who were not required to perform community service in South Africa.

The core responsibilities are heavily data-driven and administrative in nature, though they remain clinically focused. The successful candidate will maintain and update the divisional Claris FileMaker patient management database, the surgical waiting list, and the follow-up registry, and will also develop and manage SQL databases. A critical function is maintaining real-time transplant recipient and donor matching data, which must be accessible and current on a 24/7 basis. The role also involves generating reports for clinical governance, audit, morbidity and mortality review, and external reporting, as well as ensuring data quality and integrity. Daily attendance during working hours is required to keep patient flow coordination and database operations running smoothly. The post-holder will attend combined cardiology-cardiac surgery meetings, multidisciplinary team discussions, and departmental governance meetings, and will facilitate pre-operative workup and communication between the cardiology and surgical teams.

Applicants must hold an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner, and must be registered as such. However, candidates who are not yet in possession of the stipulated registration may also apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and proof of payment of the prescribed fees on or before the day of the interview; this concession applies only to health professionals applying for the first time for registration in a specific category. Strong competencies are required, including a sound understanding of cardiothoracic surgical care pathways, referral systems, and clinical prioritisation, as well as an appreciation of the operational challenges of public sector health care delivery, including equity, governance, and service sustainability. Meticulous attention to detail, systematic record-keeping, strong interpersonal and written communication skills, and computer literacy are essential. As part of Groote Schuur Hospital’s training platform, all medical officer appointments may be called upon to work across the broader ecosystem, including rotations at Metro West and Rural East hospitals such as Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, New Somerset Hospital, Mitchells Plain District Hospital, Victoria Hospital, and George Provincial Hospital. No payment of any kind is required when applying for this post, and applicants should ensure they attach an updated CV.