Assistant Professor, School of Physician Assistant Studies

Location : Hickory, North Carolina

The Lenoir-Rhyne University College of Health Sciences seeks applications for an Assistant Professor in the School of Physician Assistant Studies. Appointment begins January 2024.

Responsibilities and Qualifications

The successful candidate will serve as a member of the principal faculty in the PA Program with the potential for collateral teaching assignments in other Health Science and Natural Science programs in the areas of human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Terminal degree required (ABD will be considered). Lenoir-Rhyne faculty workload assignments are the responsibility of the provost, with input from the academic dean or the appropriate supervisor.

Full-time faculty at Lenoir-Rhyne University are typically appointed for the 9-month academic year and are assigned a 100% standard workload effort for responsibilities spanning both the fall and spring semesters. Since Lenoir-Rhyne is primarily a teaching university, teaching comprises the majority of faculty workload effort.

Lenoir-Rhyne faculty are considered teacher-scholars. As such, they are expected to divide the annual workload with 80% devoted to teaching and 20% devoted to a combination of scholarship, professional development, and service. This typically equates to a 4:4 (24 credit hour) teaching schedule.

Candidates must demonstrate a strong interest and/or experience in PA education and a commitment to health equity. Current NCCPA certification and a current PA License (or eligibility in NC) is preferred, but not required. Previous teaching experience preferred.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusiveness are integral to the college’s commitment to excellence in research, engagement, and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience engaging with diversity through activities such as fostering an inclusive environment, working with students from diverse backgrounds and/or incorporating diverse perspectives in research and teaching.

Application Process

To be considered, candidates will be required to submit the following at http://www.lr.edu/employment . Review of applications will begin July 15th and continue until the position is filled.

• Letter of application specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives related to the needs of the position.
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of diversity, equity and inclusion detailing how you have supported DEI in your academic work and/or how you plan to at Lenoir-Rhyne University

The university’s mission, vision and values statements may be reviewed under the About section of the Lenoir-Rhyne University website. The position is open until filled; however, review of applications will begin on July 15, 2023, any questions regarding the position or the search process should be submitted electronically to the search committee chair, Michael McGee, Ed.D., Dean of Health Sciences, at michael.mcgee@lr.edu .

About the College of Health Sciences and the PA Program

The College of Health Sciences provides contemporary knowledge and practical skills that prepare students for a successful career in many health-related fields. The college offers four undergraduate degrees: Community Health, Exercise Science, Sports Management, and Nursing. At the graduate level, the college offers seven degrees: Doctor of Nurse Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner, MS in Exercise Science, MS in Nursing, MS in Nutrition-Dietetic Internship, MS in Occupational Therapy, MS in Physician Assistant Studies, and the Master of Public Health.

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies has applied for accreditation-provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The Physician Assistant Studies program anticipates matriculating its first class in October 2024, pending achieving accreditation-provisional status at the June 2024 ARC-PA meeting.

Accreditation-provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Physician Assistant Studies program will not commence in the event that provisional accreditation is not received.