Meharry Medical College is in the development of a new PA program scheduled to matriculate its inaugural class in Spring of 2020. The program has planned for cohorts of 30 in years 1, 2, and 3, with a cap to be determined following completion of provisional accreditation. The 29-month curriculum culminates in the conferral of a Master of Physician Assistant Sciences degree.
The role of Academic Education Director for the Meharry Medical College Physician Assistant Sciences Program is ongoing development, management, coordination and evaluation of the physician assistant program curriculum; and serve as course director and provide instruction in Human Anatomy to the first year PA students (PAS1). The successful candidate will schedule lecturers both within and outside the PA faculty, coordinate professional development, and provide mentoring and coaching to instructional faculty with regard to teaching and assessment. He or she will oversee instructional methods and serve as a resource for faculty and students during the first (didactic) year of the PA curriculum. All faculty will participate in the continuous review, analysis and evaluation of the program's success. The Academic Education Director is a key member of the leadership team, but will also be a principal teaching faculty member. Other duties include scholarship, academic advising, service to the program and college, and professional activities.
- Teach the equivalent of at least 10 credit hours during the didactic year
- Collect and manage data to track student and program performance outcomes to ensure achieving program mission and goals
- Act as a liaison between the PA and basic sciences faculty within the PA program and the School of Graduate Studies and Research (SOGSR) and School of Medicine (SOM).
- Coordinate, review and revise academic policies and procedures as needed
- Assist the program director with the continuous development, review, planning, outcomes evaluation, and general effectiveness of the PA program
- Assist the program director with the monitoring of ongoing program quality assurance
- Assist the program director with continuous program review and evaluation, curriculum revision, evaluation of course syllabi and lesson plans for the didactic and clinical curriculum
- Provide academic advising for PA students
- Provide proctoring as necessary
- Assist in organizing and structuring the academic program in accordance with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) established educational standards and practices.
- Participate in department meetings, college committees, and state and national organizations
Required Skills
- Experience with health professions education desirable
- Experience with curriculum development and assessment
- Experience mentoring and coaching academic faculty
- Demonstrate strong collaboration, team building, and mediation skills
- Demonstrate leadership and management abilities
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills
Required Experience
- PhD in education, biological sciences or relevant field applicable to PA education from a regionally accredited university