OPT Medical Doctor Jobs
Medical Doctor jobs on OPT are rare but real. Most F-1 graduates pursue residency through the NRMP Match, which doesn't require employer-sponsored OPT separately. Your 12-month OPT clock typically starts after residency program acceptance. STEM extension doesn't apply to MD roles, so timeline planning is critical.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Since 1970, FHCSD’s mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.
FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers in the country, operating more than 90 sites across San Diego County and providing care to more than 227,000 patients each year — 91% of whom are low-income and 29% uninsured.
With a team of more than 3,200 dedicated employees, FHCSD takes pride in the diversity of its staff, which reflects the communities it serves. Working at FHCSD offers more than a paycheck and excellent benefits — it offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of San Diego’s communities.
As a provider and leader for Family Health Centers of San Diego, you embrace a spirit of service to provide caring, affordable, high quality healthcare and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low income and medically underserved persons. You thrive on the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment with many chronically ill patients, knowing you are making a difference in your community every day. You enjoy partnering with the provider team to provide excellence in medical services and supervising mid-level providers.
Clinic Details
- Multiple Locations in San Diego!
- Schedules: Monday - Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm or 8am-5pm
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- $290,000 - $335,000 Full Time Annually
- Significant Sign-on Bonus and Annual Incentives
- Free Malpractice Insurance
- CME Credit and Time Off
- NHSC Loan Repay Eligibility
- Retirement Plan with 50% Employer Match
- Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
- Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
- Relocation Assistance
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide high quality and caring medical services to a diverse patient population
- Perform routine exams, common procedures and screenings
- Order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and point-of-care tests
- Evaluate patients with complex problems and refer to appropriate specialists
- Supervise and mentor Advance Practice Providers in a responsive manner
- Exercise cultural sensitivity and seek assistance with translations if needed
- Complete all required documentation in accordance with departmental standards
- Comply with electronic medical record requirements, including medication reconciliation, finalizing notes, clearing out personal pool, and participating in clinic pool
- Attend all mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Use resources efficiently and practice medicine in a cost-effective manner
- Participate in Clinical Outcomes Program
- Maintain behavioral standards and respectful interactions with colleagues and patients
- Obtain good peer reviews, attend mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Work toward meeting organizational targets for all metrics
- Participate in administrative duties and on-call schedule in a timely manner
- Must keep medical license, DEA registration and BLS/CPR certification current
- Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
- Doctorate from an accredited school of medicine
- Board certified or board eligible in a primary care field
- Current unrestricted license to practice in the State of California or ability to obtain
- DEA license
- Current American Heart Association health care provider CPR (BLS), or Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, or Advance Resuscitation Training
- Experience with underserved, low-income, or homeless community members preferred
- Second language fluency in desired
Thank you for your interest in FHCSD!
We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:
$290,000.00 - $335,000.00
Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)
FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
INTRODUCTION
Since 1970, FHCSD’s mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.
FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers in the country, operating more than 90 sites across San Diego County and providing care to more than 227,000 patients each year — 91% of whom are low-income and 29% uninsured.
With a team of more than 3,200 dedicated employees, FHCSD takes pride in the diversity of its staff, which reflects the communities it serves. Working at FHCSD offers more than a paycheck and excellent benefits — it offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of San Diego’s communities.
As a provider and leader for Family Health Centers of San Diego, you embrace a spirit of service to provide caring, affordable, high quality healthcare and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low income and medically underserved persons. You thrive on the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment with many chronically ill patients, knowing you are making a difference in your community every day. You enjoy partnering with the provider team to provide excellence in medical services and supervising mid-level providers.
Clinic Details
- Multiple Locations in San Diego!
- Schedules: Monday - Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm or 8am-5pm
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- $290,000 - $335,000 Full Time Annually
- Significant Sign-on Bonus and Annual Incentives
- Free Malpractice Insurance
- CME Credit and Time Off
- NHSC Loan Repay Eligibility
- Retirement Plan with 50% Employer Match
- Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
- Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
- Relocation Assistance
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide high quality and caring medical services to a diverse patient population
- Perform routine exams, common procedures and screenings
- Order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and point-of-care tests
- Evaluate patients with complex problems and refer to appropriate specialists
- Supervise and mentor Advance Practice Providers in a responsive manner
- Exercise cultural sensitivity and seek assistance with translations if needed
- Complete all required documentation in accordance with departmental standards
- Comply with electronic medical record requirements, including medication reconciliation, finalizing notes, clearing out personal pool, and participating in clinic pool
- Attend all mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Use resources efficiently and practice medicine in a cost-effective manner
- Participate in Clinical Outcomes Program
- Maintain behavioral standards and respectful interactions with colleagues and patients
- Obtain good peer reviews, attend mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Work toward meeting organizational targets for all metrics
- Participate in administrative duties and on-call schedule in a timely manner
- Must keep medical license, DEA registration and BLS/CPR certification current
- Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
- Doctorate from an accredited school of medicine
- Board certified or board eligible in a primary care field
- Current unrestricted license to practice in the State of California or ability to obtain
- DEA license
- Current American Heart Association health care provider CPR (BLS), or Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, or Advance Resuscitation Training
- Experience with underserved, low-income, or homeless community members preferred
- Second language fluency in desired
Thank you for your interest in FHCSD!
We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:
$290,000.00 - $335,000.00
Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)
FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
See all 7,033+ OPT Medical Doctor Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Medical Doctor
Understand how residency intersects with OPT
Residency programs are training positions, not standard employment. Confirm with your DSO whether your program qualifies as OPT-authorized practical training before you begin, since misclassification can jeopardize your status and future visa options.
Apply for OPT before your program end date
USCIS requires your OPT application to be filed no earlier than 90 days before your program ends. Most medical graduates miss the window by focusing on boards. File early and track your EAD card arrival date carefully.
Prioritize residency programs with J-1 or H-1B sponsorship history
Most residency programs sponsor physicians on J-1 visa or H-1B visas after OPT ends. Ask program coordinators directly about their sponsorship track record before ranking them, since not all programs sponsor international graduates equally.
Know your USMLE requirements won't change with visa status
ECFMG certification and all three USMLE steps are required regardless of your visa type. Completing these before OPT begins positions you as application-ready and removes a common concern program directors have about international medical graduates.
Use your OPT period strategically for observerships
If you're awaiting Match results or between placements, clinical observerships at teaching hospitals are OPT-eligible activities in most cases. They strengthen your application and maintain training continuity during gaps, but verify eligibility with your DSO first.
Target teaching hospitals with established international graduate pipelines
Academic medical centers at institutions like Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, and Mayo Clinic regularly sponsor international physicians. These programs have dedicated HR processes for work authorization, reducing the administrative friction that delays OPT-to-visa transitions for medical graduates.
Medical Doctor OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Medical Doctor in the United States on OPT?
Yes, but with important constraints. You must have an active EAD card authorizing OPT employment before starting any clinical work. Your OPT must be in a field directly related to your degree, so an MD graduate working in a non-clinical role may not qualify. Verify your specific position with your DSO before accepting any offer.
Does OPT work for residency programs?
Yes, residency is generally considered OPT-eligible practical training for medical graduates. However, the program must be directly related to your field of study. Most residency programs are familiar with OPT authorization, but you should confirm with the program's HR department and your DSO before your start date, since administrative delays are common.
What happens to my OPT status if I don't match in the NRMP?
If you don't match, your OPT clock continues running regardless. You have 90 days of unemployment allowed during your OPT period in total. Use that window to apply for SOAP, pursue observerships, or prepare for the next cycle. Letting OPT expire without employment or a new visa status creates a serious gap in lawful status.
Do Medical Doctor roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Medicine is not a STEM-designated field under the DHS STEM list, so MD graduates are not eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. You have 12 months of standard OPT. Planning your J-1 or H-1B transition before OPT expires is essential. Browse residency programs sponsoring international physicians on Migrate Mate to identify your options early.
Can I do a fellowship on OPT after residency?
Only if you have remaining OPT time authorized for your current degree. OPT is tied to a specific degree program, and residency typically consumes most or all of your 12-month window. Many fellows transition to J-1 exchange visitor status through ECFMG sponsorship instead, which is the most common pathway for post-residency clinical training in the U.S.