Director, Doctor of Medical Science (Online Doctoral Physician Associate Program)

The Program Director provides academic, administrative, and strategic leadership for the College of Health and Natural Sciences’ online Doctor of Medical Science (doctoral-level Physician Associate program). The Program Director is responsible for ensuring the program maintains high standards of academic quality, clinical education, faculty performance, learner achievement, and continuous program improvement. The successful candidate will be a practicing or experienced Physician Associate with a doctoral degree in Physician Associate Studies, Medical Science, Education, or a closely related field. The Program Director should have substantial experience in physician associate/assistant education, particularly within an entry-level or doctoral-level PA program, and a strong understanding of the academic, clinical, accreditation, and professional expectations associated with PA education. The Program Director will lead and support full-time and adjunct faculty, collaborate with college and university leadership, oversee ongoing program assessment, and use learner and program outcomes data to promote continuous improvement and program success. Responsible for Program Leadership Provide overall academic and administrative leadership for the online doctoral Physician Associate programEstablish and maintain a clear academic vision and strategic direction consistent with the mission of the College and UniversityEnsure the program curriculum, policies, and educational practices support the development of highly competent entry-level Physician AssociatesRemain current with professional standards, expectations, and best practices for doctoral PA educationCollaborate with college leadership and university offices on program planning, resources, enrollment, scheduling, policies, and strategic initiativesParticipate in institutional committees and university initiatives as appropriateRepresent the program to internal and external stakeholders, professional organizations, clinical partners, and other relevant constituencies Faculty Leadership and Development Provide leadership, mentoring, supervision, and evaluation for full-time facultyRecruit, orient, mentor, and evaluate adjunct faculty in collaboration with appropriate college and university processesFoster a collaborative, inclusive, and academically rigorous faculty cultureEnsure faculty maintain appropriate qualifications, professional development, teaching effectiveness, and scholarly engagementSupport faculty development related to online teaching, assessment, curriculum design, clinical education, and emerging practices in PA educationCoordinate faculty workload and teaching assignments in collaboration with college leadershipFacilitate regular faculty meetings and promote effective communication across the program Learner Outcomes and Program Assessment Lead ongoing assessment of program effectiveness and learner outcomesEstablish and monitor measures of student achievement, progression, retention, graduation, certification examination performance, clinical competence, and other relevant outcomesUse assessment data to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities for innovationDevelop and implement continuous quality-improvement initiatives based on assessment findingsEnsure program-level assessment activities are systematic, documented, and aligned with institutional and professional expectationsMonitor learner feedback and outcomes and work with faculty to address identified needsPromote a culture of evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement Curriculum and Educational Quality Oversee the ongoing review, evaluation, and development of the curriculum in collaboration with faculty and college leadershipEnsure curricular content reflects current evidence, clinical practice, healthcare delivery, professional competencies, and the evolving role of the Physician AssociateSupport effective integration of didactic, clinical, scholarly, and professional development experiences within the doctoral curriculumPromote innovative and evidence-based approaches to online graduate and doctoral educationEnsure appropriate program and curriculum alignment Clinical and Professional Engagement Maintain strong relationships with education partners and the broader PA professional communityRemain current in PA practice, healthcare delivery, certification, licensure, and professional educationEncourage faculty and learner engagement with professional organizations and the PA profession Scholarship and Research Promote a culture of scholarship, research, and evidence-based practice within the programFoster faculty and learner engagement in research, scholarly activity, presentations, publications, and professional disseminationParticipate in scholarly activity appropriate to the candidate’s expertise and academic appointment Accreditation and Compliance Ensure the program operates in accordance with applicable institutional policies and professional and accreditation standardsCoordinate preparation of program reports, self-studies, accreditation materials, and other required documentation in collaboration with college leadership and relevant university officesMaintain accurate and comprehensive program recordsInitiate appropriate responses to changes in professional and accreditation standards Required Qualifications Current NCCPA board certification as a Physician Associate/Physician AssistantDoctoral degree in Physician Associate Studies, Medical Science, Education, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institutionMinimum of five (5) years of clinical experience as a Physician Associate/Physician AssistantDemonstrated experience working within entry-level Physician Associate/Physician Assistant education, preferably in an academic PA programDemonstrated understanding of the curriculum, educational standards, clinical education requirements, and learner outcomes associated with entry-level PA educationExperience providing leadership, coordination, mentorship, or supervision of faculty and/or academic programsDemonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, administrators, learners, clinical partners, and other stakeholdersExcellent written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skillsAbility to effectively lead and support faculty in an online academic environment Preferred Qualifications Preference will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following: Previous experience as a Program Director or Associate/Assistant Program Director of a master's-level or doctoral-level Physician Associate/Physician Assistant programExperience with the development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of PA program curriculaExperience with PA program accreditation, accreditation reporting, or preparation for accreditation reviewDemonstrated research experience and scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications, presentations, funded research, or other scholarly contributionsExperience supervising and evaluating full-time and adjunct facultyExperience with online, hybrid, or technology-enhanced graduate or doctoral educationExperience with program assessment, outcomes assessment, and data-driven continuous improvementActive engagement in national, state, or regional professional organizations related to Physician Associate/Physician Assistant education or practiceExperience mentoring faculty and/or students in scholarly activity and research Leadership Competencies The successful Program Director will demonstrate: Academic leadership: Ability to establish a strong academic vision and advance program qualityFaculty leadership: Ability to develop, support, and effectively lead diverse full-time and adjunct facultyStrategic thinking: Ability to align program priorities with institutional mission and evolving healthcare workforce needsAssessment expertise: Ability to interpret learner and program outcomes and translate findings into meaningful improvementsCollaboration: Ability to build productive relationships across academic, clinical, and administrative environmentsInnovation: Willingness to explore effective approaches to online doctoral education and PA professional education Professionalism: Commitment to ethical practice, academic integrity, inclusive excellence, and the advancement of the Physician Associate profession. Application Deadline: Confidential screening of applications will continue until the position is filled. This is a remote position. FPU offers competitive wages and benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision coverage, 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, educational benefits (for employee and qualifying dependents), pet insurance, accident insurance, critical illness coverage, travel discounts, 160 hours of paid time off (PTO), with additional paid sick time for your well-being, and paid holidays. Candidates should submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three references (references will not be checked until the finalist stage of the search). FPU is committed to enhancing the diversity of its community in many realms and is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). Find out more at www.franklinpierce.edu. Powered by JazzHR Em1CRGnZyL