An Invitation to Apply: Director of the Physician Assistant Studies Program Mercy College

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1 An Invitation to Apply: Director of the Physician Assistant Studies Program Mercy College The Search Mercy College is seeking a full-time Director who will oversee all aspects of the graduate program in Physician Assistant Studies within the new School of Health and Natural Sciences. Supervision of faculty, staff and the medical director in all activities that directly relate to the PA Program are also required. The Director reports to the Dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences. Mercy College is a non-sectarian institution committed to providing motivated students the opportunity to transform their lives through higher education by offering liberal arts and professional programs in personalized and high quality learning environments. The College now enrolls about 5,700 undergraduate students and 3,900 graduate students at its five campuses and through its online education portal that offers nine fully-online undergraduate and eleven graduate programs. Academic rank is open and may be offered on a tenure eligible track. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is available immediately and applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Qualifications Required Qualifications: Hold a Master s degree in Physician Assistant Studies Hold current National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification Have a minimum of 3 years full-time PA teaching experience in an academic setting Have knowledge and experience with curriculum development Have a demonstrated leadership record with administrative experience Have a minimum of 3 years of clinical practice 1

2 Have prior experience in the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) accreditation process and as such must be knowledgeable about and responsible for this process Have experience with implementing and monitoring student learning assessment plans Be eligible for licensure in the state of New York Desired Qualifications: Hold a doctoral degree in an appropriate field Have experience with research methodology Duties and Responsibilities Provide leadership in the development, enhancement and operationalization of Mercy College PA Studies Programs, including use of innovative educational formats Work with PA Studies Program faculties and curriculum committees to provide leadership for the program development and management of hybrid technologyenhanced learning models that utilize online, campus-based experiential education, as appropriate Work with public and private partners to develop shared resource business models. Work with appropriate agencies to determine workforce projections and inform program development and admissions Support exploration and development of appropriate delivery platform and infrastructure to support educational programming Provide administrative oversight for the PA Studies Program Advocate effectively for the PA Studies Program within the School, Mercy College, the community, the state and nationally Characteristics of the Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate for this position will operationalize the mission and vision set forth by Mercy College for the Physician Assistant Studies Program. While it is realized that no candidate will exhibit all desired qualities, the ideal candidate will possess the following, in addition to meeting the qualifications and responsibilities stated above: Strong interpersonal communication skills Ability to build consensus with multiple stakeholders including faculty, staff, alumnae/alumni, and students Sensitivity and perceptiveness necessary to function successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment Integrity, patience and flexibility Demonstrated leadership in curricular innovation Visionary thinker with demonstrated ability to formulate and operationalize new educational models Effective at identifying and garnering resources for an evolving educational enterprise Detail-oriented 2

3 Appreciation of interdisciplinary and inter-professional programs involving PA Studies To Apply Mercy College wishes to fill the position as soon as possible from among a qualified pool of PA professionals. This posting will remain open until filled. Interested candidates should forward a curriculum vita and cover letter, via , to: Clifford R. Hollander, PhD, or Sharon M. Flynn Hollander The Hollander Group Info@thehollandergroup.net Mercy College is an equal opportunity educator and employer and invites applications from underrepresented groups Physician Assistant Studies Master s Degree Academic Program Program Description The Mercy College Graduate Program in Physician Assistant Studies is a full-time program designed to prepare graduates to perform a wide-range of medical duties from the diagnosis and treatment of primary care patients to attending to medical emergencies, acting as first or second assistants in major surgery and providing pre and postoperative care. The Mercy College program recruits a small class so that individualized attention, a hallmark of education at Mercy, can be maintained. The Program is offered only on the Bronx campus. The Physician Assistant Studies Program at Mercy College embodies the principles of family medicine known as the biopsychosocial model of medical education. Family medicine utilizes broad-based medical knowledge incorporating several specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology and psychiatry. Graduates of the Mercy program obtain positions in a wide-range of medical fields. The Physician Assistant Studies Program emphasizes research and writing skills as well as skills necessary to practice clinical medicine. In utilizing the foundations of biopsychosocial medicine, patient communication, family systems theory and public health are emphasized. The final semester is devoted to a three-month module on the principles of community and populationbased research, and for the presentation of a capstone project based on participation in a community-based research initiative. Mercy College does not discriminate against any individual for any reason. The policy of Mercy College, both historically and currently, is that discrimination against any individual for reasons of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or handicap is specifically prohibited. Accordingly, equal access to educational programs, employment opportunities, and all other College activities are extended to all students. 3

4 The program grants a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science and a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies. Those students who do not have a baccalaureate degree must first complete 90 credits, including all general education requirements. All students must complete 33 credits of specific prerequisite courses and then complete the physician assistant curriculum. For a program brochure see: Curriculum The graduate program in Physician Assistant Studies is a full-time weekday program that takes two years and three months to complete. The program is divided into three trimesters of didactic instruction, three trimesters of clinical rotations and a final trimester for the master's capstone project. The didactic phase of the program is taught during the day, Monday through Friday. It is possible that some evening and weekend sessions are held during the first three semesters. For the clinical or second year, students will be required to be available as required by the clerkship objectives and by the hosting institution, including nights and weekends. Students move through the curriculum as a cohort. There is no opportunity for part-time study or for advanced credit if coursework has been completed previously. Each trimester contains a maximum course load. Working full-time and even part-time will not be possible for the overwhelming majority of the students. The clinical year includes rotations in some of the most prestigious and diverse hospitals and medical care settings in the New York City area. The final semester of the curriculum is spent participating in an on-going original research project. For the complete course curriculum see Accreditation The Mercy College Physician Assistant Studies program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Faculty Profile Mercy College Physician Assistant Studies Program faculty number 4 FTEs, who focus on the triad missions of teaching, service and scholarship. The Program also utilizes 3-4 adjunct faculty members and approximately guest lecturers on an ongoing basis. 4

5 Student Profile Student enrollments in Mercy College Physician Assistant Studies Program number 88. Department of Health Professions The Department of Health Professions within the new School of Health and Natural Sciences comprises the following degree-granting program/tracks: Communication Disorders: Bachelor s Degree Nursing: Bachelor s Degree: RN-BS : RN-BS-MS Nursing Administration Nursing Education Post-Master s Certificate: Nursing Administration Nursing Education Occupational Therapy: Occupational Therapy Assistant: Associate s Degree Physical Therapy: Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Physician Assistant Studies: Mercy College Mercy College is a non-sectarian institution committed to providing motivated students the opportunity to transform their lives through higher education by offering liberal arts and professional programs in personalized and high quality learning environments. The College now enrolls about 5,700 undergraduate students and 3,900 graduate students at its five campuses and through its online education portal that offers nine fully-online undergraduate and eleven graduate programs. The main campus is in Dobbs Ferry with other locations in Bronx, Manhattan, White Plains, Yorktown Heights and online. 5