Careers

The Board's investigations are performed by the Department of Consumer Affairs Health Quality Investigation Unit (HQIU). The HQIU has district offices across the state. Each HQIU district office is staffed with investigators, a supervising investigator, a deputy attorney general, clerical support staff, and one or more medical consultants.

The district office medical consultants are board-certified physicians who work side-by-side with investigators to assist in evaluating the case evidence as it is received. They may be asked to do the following: research new medical procedures and/or drugs; review and comment on medical records; be present during interviews with physicians to assist in medical discussions; write memoranda; and assist in obtaining medical expert reviewers. Medical consultants are occasionally required to testify in court; however, most of their duties are performed in the district office.

Requirements for participating in this program are:

1. A current, valid medical license issued by the Board with no complaints within the last three years, no pending accusations, or prior enforcement or disciplinary action;
2. Five years of experience within the last seven years in the practice of medicine and surgery or in one of the specialties, excluding internship and postgraduate training; and
3. Five years of experience performing research or working in fields related to medical issues.

Physicians employed in this capacity are civil service employees. They must apply through the California Department of Human Resources process, be interviewed and placed on a statewide list. They work varied hours as permanent-intermittent employees, receiving an hourly wage and certain state benefits.

• Job Description - CalHR.ca.gov

Those who are interested in this career opportunity can contact the Health Quality Investigation Unit's personnel office or obtain information through the California Department of Human Resources CalHR.ca.gov, or search for available career opportunities at CalCareers.ca.gov.

Board certified physicians are needed in all specialty areas to assist the Board by providing expert reviews and opinions on Board cases and conducting professional competency exams, physical exams, and psychiatric exams. Medical experts are asked to review case materials gathered in the course of an investigation and provide a written opinion describing the standard of care applicable to a given case at a given point in time. Then they must clearly articulate whether the physician's care under review fell below the standard, and if so, to what degree. Medical experts are expected to be willing to testify in court to their opinions.

Requirements for participating in this program are:

1. A current, valid medical license issued by the Board with no complaints within the last three years, no pending accusations, or prior enforcement or disciplinary action;
2. Board certification in one of the 24 ABMS specialties (the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Pain Medicine, the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and the American Board of Spine Surgery are also recognized) with a minimum of three years of practice in the specialty area after obtaining board certification;
3. An active practice (defined as at least 80 hours a month in direct patient care, clinical activity, or teaching, at least 40 hours of which is in direct patient care); and
4. The willingness to testify.

Participating physicians are reimbursed $150 per hour for conducting case reviews and oral competency exams, $200 an hour for providing expert testimony, and usual and customary fees for physical or psychiatric exams. If you are interested in providing services to the Board, please complete an application and submit an updated curriculum vitae.

• Expert Reviewer Program Original Application
• Midwife Reviewer Program Original Application

For additional information contact the Board's Medical Expert Program, or visit the Medical Expert Reviewer page.

Physicians are utilized as "consultants" by the Board's Central Complaint Unit (CCU) on a contract basis to review incoming complaints. The consultants are not considered to be civil service or "employees" of the Board but instead are considered "independent contractors." As such, the relationship between the medical consultant/independent contractor and the Board may be terminated by either party at any time.