Director of Clinical Education, Physician Assistant Studies - Non-tenure track

Widener University is currently seeking a Director of Clinical Education in the Institute for Physician Assistant Education in the College of Health and Human Services. This role reports to the Program Director of the Institute for Physician Assistant Education.

The Director of Clinical Education (DCE) in the Institute for Physician Assistant Education (IPAE) oversees all aspects of the clinical education portion of the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. This position is a 12-month, full-time administrative role with some teaching responsibilities.

This is an in-person position with a significant portion of the workload occurring on campus for teaching, administrative, and university obligations. There is a portion of the position that will occasionally take the DCE off site to fulfill clinical obligations such as the, evaluation of clinical sites, preceptors, and students on clinical rotations.

Responsibilities include development and maintenance of external contracts for clinical rotation sites; management of student rotation assignments; and completion of rotation visits. The DCE assists the Program Director in managing clinical instructional faculty who supervise students on clinical rotations and ensures that the clinical portion of the program is in compliance with all accreditation standards. The DCE's workload is dedicated to the management and administration of student clinical training. A significant portion of the workload occurs on site for teaching, administrative, and university obligations and may occur off site for clinical site visits.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

Essential duties:

• Ensure that the clinical portion of the program is in compliance with all accreditation standards, and HIPAA and FERPA policies.
• Assist the Program Director in managing and evaluating instructional clinical faculty who supervise students in clinical rotations.
• Manage off-campus clinical assignments, including developing and maintaining external contracts for clinical placement sites and completion of rotation site visits.
• Manage PA clinical contract information in Exxat.
• Provide guidance and support, as needed and requested, to off-campus clinical supervisors and serve as a resource for the PA clinical education community.
• Communicate activities, news, and other relevant information from the academic program to off-campus clinical rotation sites.
• Collect, compile and report pertinent clinical training data and information required for program evaluation, curriculum decisions, and accreditation.

• Interface with off-campus PA clinical supervisors regarding learning objectives and student performance in order to support quality educational experiences for students.
• Prepare students for on- and off- campus clinical assignments.
• Communicate with clinical supervisors and students during on- and off-campus clinical assignments to monitor and facilitate student performance and progress.
• Address concerns related to clinical assignments, on- and off-campus, in order to support students as well as maintain collaborative relationships with clinical supervisors.
• Regularly evaluate clinical supervisors and clinical rotations through student feedback and/or observation to ensure high-quality experiences.
• Update and maintain the clinical education portion of the student handbook.

Teaching:

• Participate in the delivery of the clinical curriculum and other courses as
• negotiated with the Program Director accordingly.
• Plan and coordinate interim education weeks after each clinical rotation to include the end of rotation exams and end of rotation activities.
• Ensure clinical courses and syllabi are current and available to all students.
• Maintain regular office hours, guide or support students who reach out for assistance, and identify students who are struggling and need extra attention or support to be successful through use of email, phone or other appropriate means of communication.

• Attend all relevant university, college, and unit meetings.
• Participate in student recruitment and admission activities.
• Assist in the accreditation process including preparation of documents for accreditation applications, annual reviews, and site visits.
• Participate in professional activities and service to the University, School, community, and the profession.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and written and oral communication abilities.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills including the use of online organizational and/or learning management systems and basic Microsoft products.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

Required:

• Minimum 5 years' experience as a certified PA and/or minimum of 5 years' experience working in a health care administrative clinical education role.
• Masters' + 3 years of experience or Bachelor's + 10 years of experience (please help us figure out how many years such that we go broad enough but not too narrow)

Preferred:

• NCCPA Certification
• Licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or eligibility to apply, as a Physician Assistant.
• Experience with teaching and/or clinical supervision (experience as a preceptor)
• Knowledgeable of PA practice.
• Knowledge of education and health care system structures relative to PA Studies.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite
• Managerial skills, contract negotiations

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:

• Must be able to sit, stand and move about a classroom and/or campus for extended periods of time.
• May need to lift supplies of up to 20lbs per item.
• May be required to be available to students via phone, email or other means of communication during nights and weekends.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.

EOE M/F/V/D