Several folks have asked me recently what my “day to day” work life is like, and I realized that even before I arrived to post, but had completed orientation, this was a huge black hole of knowledge for me too. I think most folks coming from the private sector are focused on patient volumes and acuity, that little is paid attention to other aspects of the job.

Once you find your groove in the work place, the day to day work is actually quite a bit different from a practice in the U.S. This doesn’t include hospital site visits or representational events that are part of the job but don’t happen that often. A typical day will go like this:

1. Come into work a few minutes early, review emails and schedule for the day. I’m OCD and sometimes have the bad habit of doing this when I wake up and look at my work phone. A typical day you will get dozens if not hundreds of emails requiring your attention. People that don’t manage an inbox well might struggle.
2. See patients. This ranges from primary care, well visits, and urgent care. Volume could be just one or two patients a day or a dozen, but usually somewhere in the 4 or 5 range. These are scheduled throughout my day between my other commitments.
3. Run lab tests. We have a small lab and often I will be the one running the tests. Something I never did in the private sector.
4. Prepare notes/comments for any meetings I might have to speak at.
5. Go to meetings. The State Department loves a good meeting, and as the med provider you will get roped into a lot of committees and meetings. Whether it be sectional meetings with the management team, worldwide meetings with MED, or leadership meetings with the ambassador, each week you will have several meetings that eat a decent chunk of time.
6. LUNCH! Usually graze on snacks as I don’t really care for the cafeteria food.
7. Review our pharmacy inventory and reorder any necessary items. Expiring items get discarded in the appropriate way.
8. Intake any new shipments and catalog it into our inventory system.
9. F/U with patients recently treated for acute illness and see how they are doing, usually via email or phone message.
10. Consult with regional colleagues. Either they reach out to me, or I them. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t chat with other MP’s about work issues, supply issues, or just to vent about things.
11. French Language Classes. 3 out of 5 days I take an hour long class with our post instructor.
12. Go for a walk around the compound. The embassy has a fitness program that allows for roughly half an hour of exercise everyday.
13. Head home

The job involves a lot more administrative work and engagement than one would ever do in the private sector. Patient care is still our primary goal, but because the volumes are nowhere near typical private sector volumes, we have to wear many hats. Some other things I have done but wouldn’t necessarily consider them “routine” are cafeteria inspections, water safety inspections, air quality evaluations, hospital/clinical site visits, meeting the Minister of Health, advise the political/public diplomacy section on emerging health trends, teaching first aid, teaching CPR, teaching food sanitation, teaching pool safety, participating in mass casualty training, assisting Marine Security Guards with training scenarios, and going to representation events (like a World Cup party hosted by the British Ambassador).

Overall, I love the job. The administrative aspects can be tiring at times, but I personally enjoy all the variety a day might bring and being able to participate in the greater overall goals of the embassy. Even a light clinical day can be a robust and fulfilling day of work.