Medical Director, Physician Assistant Program

POSITION SUMMARY:  The Medical Director is a member of the faculty (rank commensurate with experience).  The Medical Director supports the Program Director in ensuring that both didactic instruction and supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) meet current practice standards as they relate to the physician assistant (PA) role in providing patient care. The Medical Director is responsible for being actively involved in developing the mission and vision statements for the program; providing teaching and instruction; evaluating student performance; designing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating curriculum; and evaluating the program to ensure adherence to ARC-PA Accreditation Standards. The Medical Director is instrumental in assisting the program to ensure that students consistently meet the Program Student Learning Outcomes to achieve competencies required for PA practice.   The Medical Director also participates in activities that promote the stature of the department and the campus and abides by the mandates set by the South University Board of Trustees, University Chancellor, University Vice President ‐Academic Affairs, Campus President, and the local Executive Committee.   KEY JOB ELEMENTS: The Medical Director must provide continuous competent medical guidance for the clinically‐related program components, so that both didactic and supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) instruction meets current standards of care and evidence-based practice.   The Medical Director must assist the program faculty with ongoing review of all phases of the Physician Assistant Program curriculum and continuous self‐study.   The Medical Director must serve as an advocate for the program within the medical and academic community.  to promote and advocate the PA concept and profession and encourage increased utilization of PAs.   Assists in clinical site development and clinical site monitoring as a part of the Clinical Education Team.   Ensures achievement of the program’s student learning outcomes and graduate competencies by actively engaging with clinical facilities and sites.   Serves as a member of the Admissions Committee, participating in interview sessions and screening candidates, assessing the admissions process, participating in student selection meetings, and providing improvements and direction for the PA department.   Participates in accreditation activities, as well as ongoing program evaluation and mission and vision statement review.   Provides teaching and instruction in the PA program including: Overseeing instructional faculty coordination (preceptors) in SCPE/rotation courses. Lecturing in areas of clinical and/or professional expertise. Providing academic advising as needed.   Assists with ongoing curriculum development (design and implementation), curriculum evaluation, and improvement including program meetings.   Evaluates student performance of submitted assignments and provides remedial instruction as needed.   Performs student evaluations of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), lab practicals, as well as clinical reasoning, problem-solving, and technical skills sessions during the didactic and clinical phases of the program.   Assists in the recruitment (i.e. Search Committee member) and evaluation of teaching faculty and clinical preceptors with the Program Director.   Attends Student Progress and Promotions Committee meetings, faculty retreats, student orientation, white coat ceremonies, PA Day activities, Program Advisory Council (PAC) meetings, and further faculty/student community events.   Maintains the highest moral and ethical standards as an evaluator, medical professional, and responsible member of society.   Represents department and Physician Assistant Program at   meetings of professional organizations, societies, and social functions as necessary.   Remain current in the practice of medicine and participates in faculty development opportunities each year as required.   Engages in service, community and campus relations, and scholarly activities appropriate to the role of a Medical Director.   Assists with other responsibilities as determined by the Program Director and/or the Campus Dean of Academic Affairs.   Performs duties as assigned and outlined in the faculty job description and in accordance with the provisions of Faculty Supplement to the South University Employee Handbook.   JOB REQUIREMENTS:    Must be a licensed physician. Board certified by an ABMS‐or AOA‐approved specialty board with current, active, and unencumbered state licensure in the state where assigned. Be experienced in the delivery of educational and health care services. Knowledgeable in current practice standards and the PA role. Five years of clinical experience is required. Possess a strong commitment to the purpose and goals of South University and the Physician Assistant Program.     Strong leadership skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to build successful relationships with students, faculty, staff, and the community. Excellent teaching skills. Computer based skills (i.e., MS Office).   ENVIRONMENT:                                                                                                                The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, video conference, through email and other electronic means, move about the office or school, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess.                                                                                     South University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. We are committed to building and developing a diverse environment where a variety of ideas, cultures and perspectives can thrive.