MEDICAL SPECIALIST: TRAUMA AND BURNS REF NO: MEDSPECT&B/1/2026 (X1 POST) Department: Trauma and Burns

This position is for a Medical Specialist in Trauma and Burns at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, a major tertiary referral centre in KwaZulu-Natal. The successful candidate will join the Department of Trauma and Burns and play a central role in delivering specialised clinical services to patients with traumatic injuries and burn injuries. The role requires active participation in the clinical trauma and burns services, including interdisciplinary in-house coordination of patient management, and a visible physical presence when scene calls and unstable cases arrive. The specialist will also supervise surgical trainees rotating through the trauma and transplant units, ensuring the highest standards of clinical, professional and ethical behaviour. Teaching is a key component, encompassing undergraduate medical students and postgraduate surgical trainees, and the post holder will be expected to conduct, assist and stimulate research within the ethical guidelines of the Health Care Act. In addition, the role involves promoting education in trauma prevention and transplant community awareness.

Applicants must hold an MBChB or equivalent degree and an appropriate higher surgical qualification, specifically FCS(SA) and/or MMed Surg, and must be currently registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Trauma Surgeon. A registration certificate as a Specialist Trauma Surgeon is required. Additional qualifications that are recommended include the eFAST course, MIMMS, and/or ACLS/PALS, as well as DSTC or burns experience. Preference will be given to candidates who have completed the Cert Trauma (SA) sub-specialist training and, in particular, those who have passed the Cert Trauma (SA) sub-specialist examination. The post is graded according to experience: Grade 1 is for applicants who have the Fellowship in Surgery of the College of Medicine of South Africa or equivalent and are registered as specialists in surgery at commencement, with no prior experience required. Grade 2 requires five years of experience after registration as a Medical Specialist in General Surgery, while Grade 3 requires ten years of such experience.

The main duties include participation in the clinical trauma and burns services, interdisciplinary coordination, supervision of trainees, teaching, research, and community education. The department operates in a high-pressure environment, and the specialist must be available for physical presence on arrival of scene calls and unstable cases. Applicants should note that the hospital is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that aims to promote representativeness across all occupational categories. People with disabilities and African males are particularly encouraged to apply, although all race groups are welcome. Shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment screening and verification, including a CIPC check, and will also undertake two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise testing technical and generic suitability, and an integrity assessment. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA before the interview. Only shortlisted candidates need to submit certified copies of qualifications and proof of registration, along with an original signed letter from their current employer confirming relevant experience. There is no payment of subsistence and travel claims, and applications not acknowledged within 60 days of the closing date should be considered unsuccessful. The reference number must be indicated on the Z83 application form, and failure to comply with the application instructions will disqualify the applicant.