Department Chair, Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy 

Department Chair, Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy
PCOM Georgia

At Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), we espouse to grow a culturally competent workforce to advance medicine that touches the lives of underserved communities. Diversity and inclusion is the core component of our institutional identity and a key pillar of PCOM’s strategic vision. PCOM affirms that diversity and inclusion are crucial to the intellectual vitality of the campus community. It is through freedom of exchange over different ideas and viewpoints in supportive environments that our graduates develop the critical thinking and citizenship skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Since 1899, PCOM has trained highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care - treating people, not just symptoms. As the field of medicine has changed, we've changed with it - adapting our program offerings to better meet the needs of healthcare providers and the communities they serve. At the main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PCOM), the branch campus in Suwanee, Georgia (PCOM Georgia), and our newest location in Moultrie, Georgia (PCOM South Georgia), PCOM students learn to approach problem solving in a more professional, more team-oriented manner, which prepares them to work successfully in integrated healthcare settings with other health professionals.

Position Description

PCOM is seeking a department chair for the doctoral program in physical therapy at PCOM Georgia (Suwanee, GA). This is an excellent opportunity for a talented and experienced physical therapy educator to continue to build the developing physical therapy program, which has received Candidate for Accreditation status from CAPTE. The decision concerning initial accreditation will be made in April 2021. The Department of Physical Therapy is strongly connected to PCOM’s mission of providing education and health care focused on the community using a “whole person” approach to patient management. Opportunities exist for interprofessional collaboration with faculty, staff and students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences and School of Professional and Applied Psychology.

Administratively, the chair will report to the Dean of the School of Health Sciences and will work closely with administration, department chairs and faculty at PCOM Georgia and PCOM (Philadelphia, PA).

This position is based at PCOM Georgia (Suwanee, Georgia).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following summarizes the responsibilities of the program director and department chairperson in four key areas. Although this individual is responsible for these activities, they may be delegated to others within the department based on the organizational structure, consistent with faculty and staff strengths and interests, and within the context of department needs and available resources.

Department Operations

• Provides leadership, direction and administration of all aspects of department activities in collaboration with faculty and staff.
• Serves as the academic leader of the department.
• Responsible for development, implementation, evaluation and improvement of teaching and departmental operations within the DPT program with the assistance of the director of curriculum and instruction, director of faculty and student development and director of clinical education.
• Assures full compliance with federal, state and institutional standards and regulations.
• Provides leadership in the recruitment, selection, retention and academic success of students.
• Directs preparation and oversight of the annual budget.
• Teaches up to a maximum of 50 percent of a full-time teaching load (i.e., 12 credit hour equivalents).

Strategic Planning

• Leads the faculty and staff in the development of a strategic plan that includes identification of the mission, vision, goals and strategic initiatives.
• Utilizes the plan in budget planning and resource acquisition and allocation.
• Ensures that progress toward goal accomplishment is measured and reported as required by the institution and CAPTE.

Faculty Leadership and Development

• Leads in the recruitment and retention of high caliber faculty and staff for the department.
• Provides support for faculty and staff development with the assistance of the director of faculty and student development.
• Assesses faculty and staff performance as required by institutional policy.
• Recommends and supports faculty members’ applications for promotion and tenure.
• Ensures that workloads are equitable within the department.

Scholarly and Professional Development

• Maintains currency in educational best practices through professional development activities.
• Maintains contemporary expertise in assigned teaching areas.
• Provides a role model for faculty as a consumer and producer of scholarship.

Compliance With Accreditation Policies and Procedures

The program director is ultimately responsible for ensuring that program policies, procedures and practices are compliant with accreditation policies and procedures. Areas of particular concern include:

• maintenance of accurate information on the program website regarding accreditation status and current student achievement measures;
• submission of required fees and documentation, including reports of graduation, licensing examination pass, and employment rates in a timely fashion;
• maintaining awareness of and compliance with CAPTE Rules of Practice and Procedure;
• notification of substantive changes within the program, including changes in institutional accreditation status or legal authority in a timely manner; and
• addressing issues in which the program has been deemed to be non-compliant by CAPTE.

Position Requirements
*Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. and pass a criminal background check. Education

• Possess an earned academic doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, EdD, DSc)

Experience

• Holds the rank of a senior faculty member in the institution (i.e., associate professor, professor, clinical associate professor, clinical professor).
• Has a minimum of six years of full-time higher education experience; At least three of those years must be in a physical therapist education program.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Prior experience in a program, including curriculum, planning and assessment, fiscal management, and evaluation of employees.
• A record of exceptional teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Exceptional interpersonal and administrative skills, a commitment to learning outcomes, and vision indicative of the ability to shape and energetically lead the department and doctoral program in physical therapy.
• A commitment to cultural and gender diversity and ethics in an educational environment.
• The ability to strongly represent the College to local, state and national professional physical therapy organizations and other external bodies.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

• Licensed to practice physical therapy in any United States jurisdiction

Application Instructions

All applications must include:

• Letter of intent
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Statement of scholarly interests
• Curriculum vitae

PCOM is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration. We adhere to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.