Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies
University of North Dakota

Job Info

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Salary/Position Classification

• $110,000 - $114,000 Annual, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• 100% Remote Work Availability: No
• Hybrid Work Availability: Yes, requires ~ 50-60% of time on campus

Purpose of Position

Are you looking for a career change with professional growth and development opportunities? Join our faculty team at the University of North Dakota and be part of our unique 24-month hybrid Physician Assistant (PA) program. This program combines distance learning with alternating classroom and clinical experiences, allowing students to immediately apply and retain clinical skills.

This faculty position works alongside our clinical affiliates to educate and mentor future healthcare professionals, ensuring students receive a solid clinical educational foundation for rural primary care.

Join us and contribute to clinical development, participate in professional advancement, and help shape cutting-edge PA education to make a significant impact on the future of healthcare.

The UND Physician Assistant Program was established in 1970 at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, in response to health manpower shortages and the lack of access to primary health care in rural communities. Initially, the Program was designed to build upon the existing clinical skills of independent duty medical corpsmen returning from the Vietnam conflict to prepare them for a role in civilian primary health care delivery. The Program adopted an adult learning, competency-based curriculum (MEDEX) developed by the University of Washington.

In 1972, the Program turned to experienced registered nurses for its applicant pool with the goal to expand and extend the role of RNs in community-oriented rural and underserved primary care practice settings. From then until January 2004, a Physician Assistant Certificate was given to all who successfully completed the 12 month Program.

In 2003, the Program moved to a graduate level program offering a Master of Physician Assistant Studies. It then progressed to 24 months in length to facilitate more instruction in basic sciences as the foundation of medical practice. In 2006, the Program expanded the applicant pool by accepting not only registered nurses, but experienced clinical health care professionals from other disciplines with the same philosophy to expand the health care role of those in rural and underserved communities.

Today, the UND Department of Physician Assistant Studies offers a unique hybrid of online coursework combined with alternating classroom and clinical experiences to award a Master of Physician Assistant (MPAS) degree. This innovative curricular design provides exceptional comprehensive physician assistant education and helps solidify skills and concepts. For more information regarding our program, admissions requirements and curriculum, see our website.

Faculty responsibilities vary and will differ to some degree based upon the individual qualifications, phases of the curriculum and program needs. Consistent with all aspects of faculty membership within the university, components of teaching, scholarly and creative activity, service and administration will be integrated into this role. The following duties and responsibilities are designed to apply to the principal faculty member within the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

About UND and Grand Forks

The University of North Dakota (UND) is a public research University established as a Land Grant University in 1883. Founded with a strong liberal arts foundation, UND has grown into a prominent scientific research university, classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having high research activity. UND was recently ranked among the top 100 public and top 25 most innovative universities in the country by U.S. News and World Report, and is widely regarded as among the top universities in the American Northern Plains region. Currently, the University boasts 200+ fields of study with nearly 15,000 students.

UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of over 50,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Grand Forks boasts high-quality medical facilities, a very low crime rate, many fine restaurants, acclaimed public and private schools, and annual events throughout the year. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America's Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles."

Duties & Responsibilities

Teaching

• Serve as Instructor or Course Director for assigned courses.
  • Prepare syllabi, objectives, book lists, lectures and tests
  • Assess student progress in course, prepare and submit final grades, communicate progress with appropriate stakeholders\
• Prepare and teach identified topics within the sequential physician assistant courses
• Participate in, and evaluate student performance, for on-campus clinical labs and procedural activities
• Critique student assignments and provide prompt feedback
• Advise students, meeting with them regularly to review academic performance and clinical progress, readiness for continuance in the program and feedback related to student participation and professionalism
• Assist with student tutorial/remediation sessions
• Participate in ongoing program evaluation and accreditation processes

Service

• Attend and contribute to faculty and department meetings
• Participate in the development and revision of curriculum materials
• Engage as a member of the departmental committees
• Assume responsibilities in grant related projects as assigned
• Assume other duties within the Department when requested
• Serve as elected or appointed representative in: Department of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and University committees/activities

Scholarly Activity

• All faculty are expected to fulfill responsibilities as described in the Educator Scholar Tract of the Health Sciences Promotion and Tenure Guidelines and commiserate with the Percent of Effort as approved on a yearly basis.

Administration

• Actively engage in the recruitment and development of clinical sites which may involve travel
• Work with the departmental clinical team to ensure preceptors and clinical sites are able to meet the expectations of the program for educational suitability of student placement
• Assist to support and strengthen existing partnerships with current clinical affiliates
• Assist in clinical placement and administrative management of scheduling students for clinical experiences
• Work with clinical team to ensure documentation of credentialing for students in clinical experiences
• Travel to evaluate clinical sites and student progress during clinical practice experiences

Clinical Effort

All faculty licensed and certified as a Physician Assistant are encouraged to engage in an agreed upon amount of clinical practice supportive of the Departmental needs

Required Competencies

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to connect with clinical partners, and teach and mentor students.
• Excellent interpersonal relationship and networking skills with students, clinical partners, faculty, stakeholders, and administrative officials in a time sensitive, confidential, and professional manner
• Proactively anticipate the needs of students, clinical entities, faculty, stakeholders, and administration and respond to requests appropriately with the motivation to task and consistent follow through
• Initiative in managing multiple tasks and projects, with the ability to handle several priorities and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines
• Ability to create and improve systems, maintaining accurate and detailed records
• Demonstrated ability in proactive problem solving and improvement, sound decision making and critical thinking
• Interest in areas that align with our program mission
• Knowledge of the primary care role of the PA and the role of various health care providers in the health care system
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• A strong interest in scholarship and professional development

Minimum Requirements

• Graduate level Physician Assistant from an accredited PA Program and current NCCPA Certification
• Experience as a PA-C, preferably in primary health care
• Licensure (unrestricted) or licensure eligible as a PA-C in North Dakota
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• General medical knowledge and proficiency in clinical skills and abilities to function within one's primary care provider role
• General knowledge and proficiency in classroom instruction, including on-line instruction
• Proficiency in upgrading skills and knowledge required to retain eligibility of professional certification
• Previous teaching experience
• Willingness to pursue a doctoral degree, if applicable

To Apply

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by October 7, 2024.

• A letter of interest highlighting qualifications for the position.
• Current curriculum vita/resume.
• Contact information for three references (references will not be contacted without notice).

Position will remain open until filled.

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