GENERALDESCRIPTIONOFPOSITION: Come join a hard-hitting, successful medical research team working to counter the power of the pharmaceutical, medical device, and other health care-related industries in Washington, D.C. The group was begun in 1971 by Ralph Nader and Dr. Sidney Wolfe. We petition the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take dangerous drugs and devices off the market, call out the FDA when it gets too cozy with the industries it regulates, blow the whistle on unethical clinical trials, work to improve patient safety and state medical board oversight of dangerous doctors, and advocate for stronger safeguards for workers.

This full-time position will be based at Public Citizen’s headquarters in Washington, DC. The physician health researcher will monitor and conduct research and advocacy projects on a wide range of health care issues and activities involving, among other things: (a) the safety, effectiveness and regulation of drugs, medical devices and dietary supplements; (b) occupational health and safety; (c) the ethics and regulation of clinical trials and other human subjects research; (d) physician oversight and accountability; (e) health care systems; (f) public and private health insurers; (g) consumer product safety; and (h) government agencies including, but not limited to, the FDA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Health Services and Research Administration, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. As a health researcher, you will produce research reports, submit petitions and letters to government agencies and Congress, make presentations at meetings, and increase public awareness about these issues. Some projects are self-initiated in consultation with the Health Research Group (HRG) Director; others are assigned by the Director.
The webpage at www.citizen.org/hrgpublications provides numerous recent examples of our research-based advocacy work. To learn more about Public Citizen, visit our homepage at www.citizen.org.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Review and analyze publicly available and other data and documents related to a wide range of health care issues, including those identified above. Based on these reviews, write reports, petitions, and letters for submission to appropriate government agencies and officials and public dissemination.
2. Engage in research-based consumer advocacy on a wide range of health care issues.
3. Review and comment on policies and regulations issued by government health agencies and authorities.
4. Review and comment on health care-related legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress.
5. Review literature, news accounts, government reports, and other sources to identify timely health care issues important to consumers.
6. Serve as a specialist on specific health care issues.
7. Write medical journals articles and commentaries.
8. Give speeches and presentations in educational or public affairs forums.
9. Write content for the next edition of the book WorstPills,BestPills and occasional articles for the monthly newsletters, WorstPills,BestPillsNews and HealthLetter.
10. Respond to media inquiries.
11. Respond to consumer inquiries.
12. Mentor interns, residents, and fellows, as instructed by the Director.
13. Perform such other duties as are assigned by the Director.