"Director of Didactic Education/Faculty - MPAS-AZ/CHNS"

Position Summary

The Franklin Pierce University Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program is committed to collegial collaboration amongst all members of the team, across all phases of the program. Core faculty in the PA Program will work closely with the MPAS faculty and staff, and will be primarily responsible for assisting in the administration of the program, including curriculum development, delivery and review. The Director of Didactic Education (DDE) will work closely with staff and faculty and will be primarily responsible for the organization and development of the didactic education phase of the program including curriculum development, delivery, and review. As a core faculty member, the DDE will assist in the administration of the didactic phase, as well as participate in teaching assignments, in addition to didactic course coordination. Other responsibilities will include academic advising, admissions and recruitment, program evaluation, participating in institutional activities and committees, facilitating quality learning experiences for students, and evaluating students’ performance in cooperation with faculty.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions of the Position

Instructional:

• Implement directives of the Program Director relating to the didactic curriculum.
• Teach a variety of classes in the didactic and clinical phases of the program.
• Teach assigned courses in accordance with the course syllabus, institutional policy, and accreditation standards.
• Ensure the timely development and updating of didactic course syllabi, required reading assignments, and learning objectives for didactic courses.
• Coordinate immersion weeks so as not to overlap with clinical phase students or with other programs.
• Participate in update and revision of course content and teaching methodology in order to maintain current evidence-based medicine.
• Maintain familiarity with current texts, up-to-date materials, teaching aids and techniques relative to courses within the discipline and recommend their adoption when appropriate.
• Provide advice and/or assistance as appropriate to faculty regarding course content and instructional materials.
• Adhere to all institutional policies and procedures as outlined in the MPAS Faculty Handbook.

Didactic Education:

• Assist with the administration, organization and development of the didactic education phase of the program.
• Coordinate didactic curricular offerings for each term (including content alignment, weekly schedules, etc.), receiving feedback from faculty.
• Arrange for didactic course offerings located off-site as well as room requests (if needed) each term.
• Coordinate evaluation of didactic students and courses.
• As requested by the Program Director, complete reports on requirements and/or surveys relating to the didactic curriculum to ensure compliance with ARC-PA Standards and program competencies.
• Arrange for review of courses and presentations by the faculty on each of their courses.
• Arrange for publishing the term exam schedule (with collaboration of all faculty).
• Advise faculty on curricular matters (e.g., syllabus, course delivery format, learning objectives, examination writing, rubrics, etc.).
• Monitor general progress of students across the didactic curricula and assist faculty in developing remediation strategies.
• Document and analyze student grades, remediation plans, didactic issues, and other topics related to didactic year students.
• Analyze exams using available software and maintain an up-to-date exam tracker document reflecting the performance of all students in all courses.
• Advise faculty on policies regarding issues such as student failures, withdrawal policies, deceleration, and leave of absence.
• Assist faculty and staff in creation of learning plans and special degree plans for students taking a leave of absence or deceleration.
• Advise faculty and guest lecturers on expected program learning outcomes.
• Serve as chair for the program’s Curriculum Committee.
• Organize program Curriculum Committee meetings to discuss program curriculum updates and recommendations.
• Recommend changes in curriculum and didactic course offerings and present to the program’s Curriculum Committee.
• Work with the Director of Clinical Education (DCE) as needed on curriculum-related matters.
• Complete forms for the University’s Curriculum Committee approval.
• Refer disciplinary matters to the Program Director.

Leadership / Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively within the team environment.
• Oversee all aspects of students’ didactic experiences.
• Engage core faculty in didactic education planning, implementation and assessment.
• Recruit and network to seek ongoing guest lecturers for the didactic phase.
• Orient new faculty, lecturers, staff and students to the didactic phase as needed.
• Promote our program, enhance our visibility and assist with recruiting and retaining students.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in the admissions process.
• Participate in the program’s ongoing self-study and accreditation process, including preparation of documents and/or reports, and active participation in site visits by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
• Assist employees of the program on an as-needed basis.
• Participate in University activities.
• Meet requirements articulated in the Franklin Pierce University Faculty Protocol.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements/Skills/Abilities:

• Must have knowledge of educational, management, and adult learning theory and principles and be able to administer, assess, and document programmatic education trends and data.
• Must have a minimum of three (3) years of clinical experience as a practicing provider.
• Previous teaching experience or preceptorship is preferred.
• Faculty shall be a graduate of an accredited PA program or have related health degree (MD/PhD/NP/DO), with a minimum of a master’s degree.
• Faculty shall maintain National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification if a physician assistant.
• A current PA, NP, MD, or DO license is required or eligibility to achieve licensure within one (1) year of hire.
• Incumbent will work under typical office conditions, as well as travel to clinical rotation sites as needed.
• Must have a valid U.S. driver’s license.
• Have the ability to travel nationally and locally on behalf of the University, as needed.