MEDICAL SPECIALIST GRADE 1 TO 3 (ORTHOPAEDICS)

This position offers a challenging and rewarding career opportunity for a qualified orthopaedic surgeon to join the dynamic team at Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory, Cape Town. As a Medical Specialist in Orthopaedics, you will be part of a leading academic and tertiary healthcare institution that serves as a major referral centre for the Western Cape. The role is graded across three levels, allowing for career progression based on your years of post-registration experience. The hospital operates within the Western Cape Department of Health’s broader training platform, meaning that while your primary base is Groote Schuur, you may be required to provide services and rotate across other facilities in the western metropole and rural east, including Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, New Somerset Hospital, Mitchells Plain District Hospital, Victoria Hospital, and George Provincial Hospital. This ecosystem approach ensures that specialist care is delivered where it is needed most and enhances your exposure to a wide variety of trauma and orthopaedic cases.

To be considered for this post, you must hold an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Specialist in Orthopaedic Surgery, and you must be registered with the HPCSA in that category. For appointment at Grade 1, no prior experience as a specialist is required. For Grade 2, you need a minimum of five years of appropriate experience as a Medical Specialist after registration, and for Grade 3, a minimum of ten years of such experience. If you are a foreign-qualified specialist, experience gained after registration with a recognised foreign health professional council will be considered. Importantly, candidates who do not yet have the required registration may still apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and proof of payment of the prescribed fees to the HPCSA 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, including those who need to change their registration status.

The core duties of this role are centred on the provision of specialist orthopaedic trauma surgery services. You will be responsible for delivering high-quality clinical and surgical care to patients in both secondary and tertiary settings, managing complex trauma cases, and ensuring continuity of care. A significant part of your time will be devoted to the supervision and training of junior surgical staff, including medical officers, registrars, and interns. You will also participate in under- and post-graduate teaching activities within the division, contributing to the academic mission of the hospital. Participation in after-hours service provision is compulsory, and you must be willing to work in a high-volume clinic and surgical environment. Commuted overtime is an inherent requirement of the job, meaning you will be expected to work additional hours as part of your standard employment conditions.

To succeed in this role, you need to demonstrate strong clinical and surgical competency in orthopaedic trauma surgery, as well as the ability to manage a busy workload. Computer literacy and an interest in data collection for service improvement are essential, as the department values evidence-based practice and quality enhancement. You should have insight into the challenges of local healthcare delivery, including issues of diversity, transformation, and equity, and be committed to addressing these in your daily work. Experience in supervising and training staff and students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels is also required. The hospital is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates from all population groups, with specific equity targets in mind. No payment of any kind is required when applying for this post, and you must ensure that your updated CV is attached to your application. This is an OSD-graded position, and the salary scales are competitive within the public health sector. If you are a dedicated orthopaedic specialist looking to make a meaningful impact in a tertiary academic environment while contributing to the broader regional health system, this role offers an exceptional platform for professional growth and service delivery.