COM-Assistant/Associate/Professor of Medicine Division Head for Behavioral Health

About the role

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) was founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical institution in 2005 aimed at increasing access to health care in medically underserved areas of the Pacific Northwest. The University currently offers the degrees of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Master of Biomedical Sciences, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy enrolling over 550 students annually. Interprofessional education partnerships with other universities adds another 100 students to the population. The campus includes 300 employees with academic programming spread over a five-state region. PNWU is located in Yakima, WA, a city of approximately 95,000 located in the south central part of the state near the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in a major agricultural and outdoor recreation region.

The assistant/associate/professor and division head will be assigned teaching, scholarly activity, service, and clinical practice responsibilities as a faculty member in the department. This position reports to the Department Chair of Medicine. The faculty member is in a non-tenured position with a focus on teaching in the College of Osteopathic Medicine program. This position participates and assists the Department Chair and colleagues in the development and implementation of curricula which integrate the medical specialties in team-based, large and small group learning environments. Primary teaching assignments include clinical skills and decision making, topics relevant to the practice of primary care and psychiatry, and how these skills, decisions and practices are supported by evidence from basic sciences. Most teaching will occur in the classroom for systems based courses, however, the professor may be assigned lectures in clinical didactics and clinical skills discussion groups, simulations, and labs, at the discretion of the department Chair. The professor may be required to teach up to 25 contact hours at 25% FTE. Professor must be on campus for 75% of systems course lectures. Typical responsibilities for this position primarily include classroom teaching for students in the second year of medical school, writing letters of reference (LORs) to support the application of fourth year students for psychiatry residencies, writing letters to support the application of students for visiting student learning opportunities (VSLO), curriculum development for behavioral health both in the behavioral health course and as it relates to the practice of medicine generally.

Work Environment: Standard office and campus environment. The job requires slight physical effort. Routine visits to businesses and clients. Attending meetings outside of the University. May include travel to other cities and states.

Physical Requirements: Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods of time. Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction. Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard. Communication skills using the spoken word. Ability to see within normal parameters. Ability to hear within normal range. Ability to move about.

Responsibilities

• Continuously prepares and teaches assigned course
• Student advisement/office hours
• Develops course syllabus
• Serves as co-director of the behavioral health course
• Administration of examinations
• Clinical practice as appropriate
• Writes LORs and VSLO letters
• Understands accreditation standards and expectations specific to the department and adheres to policies and procedures to meet or exceed such standards
• Conducts self appropriately and consistently in accordance with the philosophy and mission of PNWU
• Other duties as assigned

Scope of Responsibility: Knows the formal and informal departmental goals, standards, policies and procedures, which may include some familiarity of other departments within the University. Is sensitive to the interrelationship of both people and functions within the department or office. Flexibility to work as part of a team as well as independently to meet goals in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information as well as ability to conduct oneself in a highly professional manner. Highly responsive to requests and has a commitment to providing high-quality service. Maintains a customer service demeanor at all times.

Decision Making: On a regular and continuous basis, exercises sound judgment, and assumes responsibility for decisions, consequences and results.

Communication: Exchanges non-routine information using tact and persuasion as appropriate requiring good oral and written communication skills.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional degree (D.O., M.D.) from an accredited institution of higher education
• Completion of a Psychiatry residency accredited by the American College of Graduate Medical Education
• Currently board eligible or board certified in Psychiatry by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry or the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
• Current medical license in any state; preference to those who have licensing in the state of Washington
• Current Drug Enforcement Administration certification

Preferred Qualifications

• A team player who values collaboration, mutual support and team cohesion
• Knowledge of instructional technologies
• Experience with curricular and instructional design, and training or experience in educational theory and/or evaluation
• Experience using innovative teaching methods which might include team-based learning, “flipped classroom”, problem-based learning, distance learning, interactive large group presentation, audience response systems, curriculum delivery systems (e.g., Moodle), and proficiency in exam item writing (in the style of the United States Medical Licensing Exam or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination)

Experience

• Prior teaching experience in academic setting
• Possess exceptional credentials in scholarly, professional and/or individual achievement
• Extensive professional experience with an exemplary record for achievement