Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) - Physician Associate Studies - Fall 2026

About the Department

The Department of Physician Associate (PA) Studies at Commonwealth University houses the nationally recognized Physician Assistant (PA) Program. Founded in 1996 as the Lock Haven University PA Program, and graduating its first class in 1998, this program is recognized as the first PA Program within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. Following five years of success at the Lock Haven campus, the PA Program was expanded to the Clearfield campus location in 2001 with classroom instruction delivered using state-of-the-art distance education technology. In 2010, the PA Program was again expanded to offer instruction at a campus location in Harrisburg. The Department of PA Studies consists of on-site faculty at each campus location where the program is offered. On-site faculty serve as instructors for both classroom and lab-based instruction as well as advisors for both first-year (didactic phase) and second-year (clinical phase) students. The curriculum for the PA Program utilizes a team-teaching approach to a modular-based design with didactic instruction following an organ-based and medical specialty-focused approach. Faculty in the department have clinical expertise in a variety of settings, including family practice, pediatrics, women’s health, inpatient medicine, emergency medicine/urgent care, and surgery.

About the College

The Department of Physician Associate Studies is one of five departments in the College of Health Sciences at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. The College offers nationally accredited and regionally distinct programs. Faculty and staff in the College are committed to providing every student a meaningful education with impact and value. The College seeks student-centered educators and scholars to educate students with innovative and pedagogically sound methods and to engage students in and out of the classroom in high-impact educational practices. The College houses the Breiner School of Nursing and offers several undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including two doctoral programs: the Doctor of Audiology and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. The College aims to graduate well-trained students to serve the science and technology industry and prepare students as competent and caring health care professionals to serve their communities and the health care industry in the region and beyond.

Duties

• Deliver classroom instruction across multiple campus locations using distance education technology within a team-based modular format.
• Provide on-site instruction for small group, physical diagnosis, and clinical skills lab activities.
• Travel to other campus locations for on-site instruction as assigned.
• Supervise and complete site visits on second year PA students as needed.
• Develop learning outcomes for PA students.
• Develop, implement, and administer competency assessments of PA students.
• Assure clinical education sites used by the program are in compliance with University and Program policies including the ability of clinical sites to provide patient experiences that support students in achieving program-defined student learning outcomes and competencies.
• Actively recruit and maintain existing clinical partnerships and training sites.
• Acquire data on the efficacy of didactic and clinical instruction provided to PA students.
• In concert with other designated program personnel and appropriate departmental committees, analyze, draw conclusions, and implement educational strategies to foster an environment of continuous quality improvement.
• Develop, coordinate, and provide instructional support for clinical year PA students.
• Attend and participate in committee, program, and departmental meetings.
• Assist with day-to-day activities at the Lock Haven campus location including assistance with classroom technology, lab preparation/clean-up, inventory of supplies, etc.
• Assist the Program Director and Department Chair in reviewing, planning, and analyzing compliance with ARC-PA standards of accreditation.
• Actively participate in the University community and professional service.
• Engage in academic and professional scholarship activities.

The successful candidate will need to complete distance education training programs as made available by the University within two years of hire for the purpose of teaching in a multi-campus environment with remote teaching needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher as a physician assistant or in a health-related discipline.
• Must have a current NCCPA certification (or board eligibility in a related field) as well as eligibility to practice within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Must have a valid PA driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 or more years of experience in clinical practice as a PA
• Experience with developing learning outcomes, defining competencies, and supervising PA student clinical experiences