Learning Specialist

Department of Medical Education

About the role

The Learning Specialist provides academic counseling, learning strategy support, and entrance and board exams preparation assistance for medical students across both the Columbia and Springfield campuses of the University of Missouri School of Medicine. The Learning Specialist will promote student success by delivering individualized coaching, workshops, and proactive outreach for learners at all stages of the preadmission programs. The specialist collaborates with faculty, program coordinators, curriculum leaders, and student affairs to ensure equitable academic support services across both campuses and to enhance student performance, well-being, and readiness for entrance and licensure examinations.

The University of Missouri School of Medicine is entering a period of strategic growth and innovation, highlighted by the UM Board of Curators’ approval to expand the Springfield clinical campus into a full four-year medical program. This expansion will increase total enrollment across Columbia and Springfield to more than 670 medical students and strengthen the university’s commitment to addressing Missouri’s physician shortage, particularly in rural regions. Beginning in 2027, first-year students will be welcomed to the Springfield campus, with fully identical curricula delivered across both sites through shared faculty, expanded simulation resources, and bi-directional livestreamed instruction.

Complementing this statewide investment, the School of Medicine’s MOmentum curriculum redesign is transforming how future physicians are trained. MOmentum builds on MU’s long-standing learner-centered approach by integrating cutting-edge technology, innovative teaching strategies, and comprehensive support systems to create a dynamic and effective learning environment. The redesigned curriculum emphasizes evidence-based education, active learning, individualized support, early clinical exposure, and the development of lifelong, self-directed learners prepared to navigate an increasingly complex health care landscape.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized academic counseling and coaching.
  • Meet with students to develop effective study habits, time management strategies, and test-taking approaches.
  • Support students experiencing academic challenges, remediation, or transitional stress.
• Support students in preparation for entrance and national board exams (MCAT, Step 1 and Step 2 CK).
  • Advise students on study planning, preparation timelines, and resource use.
  • Monitor readiness and progress through data and self-assessment tools.
• Develop and deliver learning resources and educational programming.
  • Design and facilitate workshops, presentations, and written materials to strengthen learning skills and academic resilience for junior and senior undergraduate students as well as pre-clinical and clinical medical students.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administration.
  • Work with Student Affairs, Assessment, and curriculum committees to ensure alignment of support strategies with curricular goals and student needs.
  • Participate in Preprofessional Scholars Program (PSP) meetings and initiatives focused on student performance and success.
• Monitor academic performance and conduct proactive outreach.
  • Identify at-risk students early through performance data, referrals, and faculty/staff input; provide timely intervention and support plans.
• Provide cross-campus support and consistency in services.
  • Coordinate efforts between Columbia and Springfield to ensure uniform delivery of learning support, including virtual sessions and resource sharing.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 3 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Pay

Salary Range: $54,000 - $67,000 annually

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Benefits

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Retirement benefits
• Paid time off
• Short- and long-term disability
• Paid parental leave
• Paid caregiver leave
• Educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses