Physician Assistant Program Director

About This Role

The School of Health Sciences, within the College of Health and Human Sciences, seeks a Program Director for their Physician Assistant (PA) Program. This 12-month, non-tenure track position at the rank of Clinical Associate Professor or Clinical Professor will be responsible for the continued development, management, and accreditation of the PA Program. This position reports to the Dean and the Interim School Director.

Job Duties

Program Administration & Accreditation:

• Lead accreditation process and coordinate site visits
• Obtain and maintain accreditation-continued status
• Comply with ARC-PA accreditation standards and policies
• Provide effective program leadership by exhibiting responsiveness to issues related to program personnel, strong communication skills, and proactive problem-solving
• Be knowledgeable about and responsible for the organization, administration, planning, development, and fiscal management of the program
• Provide supervision and evaluations of medical director, principal faculty, instructional faculty, and program staff
• Develop, review, and revise as necessary the program’s mission statement, goals, and competencies
• Oversee the revision of program policies and procedures
• Interface with program stakeholders
• Responsible for continuous programmatic review and analysis, including continuous self-study and periodic self-study activities
• Serve as primary liaison between undergraduate programs; Admissions, Didactic and Clinical Curriculum; and Promotion, Progression, and Professionalism Sub-Committees

Academic Management & Admissions:

• Participate in the design, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of the program curriculum while ensuring it meets the expectations and requirements of HHS, the Higher Learning Commission, and ARC-PA
• Provide student instruction, academic counseling, performance evaluation, and remedial instruction as needed
• Assist principal and instructional faculty in revising course and lecture-based learning experiences in response to instructor and course evaluation feedback
• Participate in the recruitment, screening, interviewing, and selection of applicants for admission to the program

Service/Scholarly:

• Engage in and encourage faculty participation in scholarly and community service activities
• Participate in local, state, and/or national leadership activities relevant to PA education and practice
• Serve on school, college, and university committees
• Serve as chair of the Physician Assistant Evaluation Committee (PAEC)

About Us

The Physician Assistant (PA) Program leads to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree. The 27-month program follows the traditional medical model of training, providing in-depth analysis of disease processes, diagnosis, and treatment, and prepares students to serve as primary healthcare providers who practice medicine with physician supervision. The PA Program’s mission is to prepare highly skilled graduates committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care in a collaborative environment. The program is dedicated to graduating physician assistants who demonstrate professionalism, are globally minded, and practice within an ethical framework to improve the quality of life of their communities.

The College of Health and Human Sciences inspires and prepares passionate and caring individuals for a meaningful life and a career that promotes human well-being in the areas of business, design, teacher education, human behavior, and health sciences. Home to 2,470 undergraduate and 559 graduate students studying in over 50 degree programs housed in three schools (School of Health Sciences, School of Human Sciences, and School of Consumer Sciences), we provide students with the education and skills needed to make an impact in the lives of individuals, families, and communities across the state and beyond.

For more information about the opportunity and the Manhattan community, view our executive profile. 

For more information about Kansas State University, please review our university profile.

Worksite Option

This position is on-site. 

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher
• Current NCCPA certification
• Current Kansas Physician Assistant license or eligibility for Kansas licensure
• At least three years of full-time higher education experience, preferably in PA education
• Knowledge of ARC-PA accreditation standards and experience with the accreditation process
• At least five years of experience in clinical practice
• Experience in higher education administration, preferably in PA or medical education
• Experience with academic program planning, development, and/or fiscal management
• Demonstrated effective leadership and management experience
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, handle confidential information, and be detail-oriented

Preferred Qualifications:

• Earned doctoral degree in relevant discipline
• Previous experience as a director or clinical education coordinator of an ARC-PA accredited program at an institution of higher education
• Demonstrated record of scholarly research
• Experience with advising undergraduate students into professional programs
• Prior experience with development of interprofessional education
• Prior experience with patient simulation (patient care simulators/standardized patient models)
• Experience organizing and administering all program components as required for accreditation
• Experience managing large budgets
• Experience with continuous program review, assessment, and analysis
• Experience developing and implementing curriculum, preferably within PA programs
• Experience with strategic planning and positioning programs for growth
• Experience supervising faculty and staff in an academic environment

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

How to Apply

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited and will be treated confidentially. Summit Search Solutions, Inc. is assisting Kansas State University in this search.

Applications should include a PDF version of your CV and cover letter that addresses your interest and related qualifications and experience. Applications should be submitted directly to Summit Search Solutions, Inc.’s candidate portal: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su454

Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Dr. Karen Pedersen at kpedersen@summitsearchsolutions.com and Stephanie Rivas-Fowler at srivasfowler@summitsearchsolutions.com.

Screening of Applications Begins

Immediately and continues until position is filled.