Full-Time Assistant Dean & Program Director, Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Job Description
Assistant Dean & Program Director, Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Lincoln Memorial University, in partnership with the national search firm, Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the position of Assistant Dean & Program Director, Professor of Physician Assistant Studies. Lincoln Memorial University seeks an innovative leader in Physician Assistant (PA) education to serve in this important role.
The Assistant Dean & Program Director, Professor of Physician Assistant Studies will be responsible for the planning, development, implementation, organization, management, continuous review and analysis, general effectiveness, and administrative oversight of the Harrogate, Tennessee Physician Assistant Program.
The mission of Lincoln Memorial University’s Physician Assistant Program is to educate future Physician Assistants to provide quality healthcare with an emphasis in primary care to the medically underserved of Appalachia and beyond.
Responsibilities:
- Promote the mission of Lincoln Memorial University to all faculty, staff, students and to the community at large;
- Promote effective working relationships among faculty, staff and students;
- Comply with the university Faculty/Staff Policy Manual;
- Ensure program compliance with Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) standards;
- Support LMU’s continued compliance with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation standards;
- Fulfill the University’s scholarship expectation through research, publication, grant development, and creative achievement;
- Provide committee service;
- Attend department, school, and university faculty meetings;
- Supervise the process of seeking, achieving and maintaining program accreditation when appropriate;
- Supervise the activity of the medical director;
- Maintain responsibility of articulation between the Physician Assistant Program and other departments/programs within School of Medical Sciences;
- Supervise faculty and other program personnel;
- Provide leadership in all activities relating to the Physician Assistant Program;
- Plan and submit an annual fiscal year operational budget;
- Administer the program budget;
- Establish and monitor current clinical affiliation sites and agreements;
- Direct faculty in the process of curriculum development;
- Lead on-going curricular revisions and maintain a state-of-the-art program of excellence;
- Supervise the development of course schedules;
- Supervise the scheduling of classes, clinical rotations, and the reporting of students’ grades;
- Prepare requests for services and equipment required to execute the functions of the program;
- Provide daily management of departmental matters, including faculty and staff hiring, evaluation, and development; coordination and assessment of courses and continuous program evaluation and improvement;
- Monitor program enrollments, class sizes, and grade distributions;
- Ensure effective student advising;
- Participate in the search process for selecting and approving full-time and adjunct faculty with appropriate credentials to teach in the academic programs, and forwarding a recommendation for employment to the Dean of the LMU School of Medical Sciences;
- Coordinate arrangements for orientation of new faculty and staff members;
- Lead directors, faculty and staff in the process of completing the annual evaluations and conducting an evaluation session with each chair, faculty, and staff members;
- Supervise the development, implementation, evaluation and preparation of annual reports of the Outcomes Assessment Plan;
- Supervise the development, implementation, evaluation and preparation of annual reports of the Strategic Plan;
- Lead accreditation and self-study processes;
- Teach in area of expertise;
- Make informed decisions based on the Physician Assistant Program’s Student Progress Committee (SPC);
- Establish a personal program of scholarly activity and promote faculty scholarship;
- Perform service activities that advance the program and the profession, including assistance in the recruitment, orientation, and retention of students;
- Serve as a member of the University Academic Council and present program curriculum proposal(s) to the Council for approval;
- Pursue grant development and external funding;
- Complete required institutional and program accreditation reports and other reports necessary for the operation and advancement of the University;
- Supervise functions and activities of PA admissions;
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree;
- Minimum three (3) years of experience teaching in a PA Program;
- Graduate of an accredited PA Program;
- Minimum two (2) years of clinical practice as a PA;
- Current National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification;
- Possess registration to practice as a PA in the state of Tennessee, or eligibility;
- Previous teaching/administrative experience in higher education.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Doctoral degree in a field related to medical science or education;
- Experience in private higher education;
- Evidence of effective teaching and scholarly activity.
About Lincoln Memorial University:
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) was founded in 1897, as a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln. With 125 years of academic excellence and service as our foundation, LMU is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee, where you will find the Lincoln Museum, which houses one of the largest Lincoln collections in the world.
LMU is located in Harrogate, Tennessee, where Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia merge at the Cumberland Gap, approximately 55 miles north of Knoxville, Tennessee. We are proud of our beautiful, historic, 1,000-acre wooded campus with 43 academic, administrative, and residential buildings.
Most importantly, LMU is a close-knit community filled with people who care. Students receive personal attention with an average class size of 14. At LMU, community members build relationships that last, and learn lessons that last a lifetime.
About the School of Medical Sciences:
As part of its mission of service to Appalachia, Lincoln Memorial University established the physician assistant program at its main campus in 2009. Building on the PA program’s success and the University’s mission, the University developed a second physician assistant program at its Knoxville campus in 2018. Due to the rapid growth of these programs and the physician assistant profession, the LMU School of Medical Sciences was established in 2019. The School now houses three programs: Medical Laboratory Science, Physician Assistant, and Doctor of Medical Science. Each program offers the highest quality medical education with state-of-the-art facilities and experienced faculty.
About Harrogate, Tennessee:
Harrogate, Tennessee is a hidden gem that captures the essence of small-town charm and natural beauty. Nestled in the heart of the Cumberland Gap region, Harrogate has a population of about 4,400 people. From its lush green landscapes and parks to its friendly community, Harrogate offers a serene and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re exploring the historic sites, enjoying outdoor adventures in the nearby mountains, or simply savoring the local cuisine, Harrogate leaves a lasting impression of genuine Southern hospitality and picturesque surroundings. Learn more about what Harrogate has to offer here: https://www.tnvacation.com/east-tennessee/harrogate
APPLICATION PROCESS
All correspondence relating to the position of Assistant Dean & Program Director, Professor of Physician Assistant Studies at Lincoln Memorial University should be directed in confidence to the University’s executive search consultant:
Erin House, Assistant Vice President
Scott Healy & Associates
A complete application should include the following:
- Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
- Updated CV;
- Three (3) professional references with contact information, title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)
Applications received by October 13, 2023 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
Lincoln Memorial University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action education institution. Lincoln Memorial University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in all University programs and activities.
