Founding Director Physician Assistant Program

The College of Health Sciences at Alvernia University (www.alvernia.edu) invites applications and nominations for a Founding Physician Assistant (PA) Program Director. Alvernia is seeking to start a new Physician Assistant Program with an August 2024 start date.  Initial duties will include developing the PA program using ARC-PA guidelines and seeking affiliations for clinical sites for PA rotations. Reporting to the Inaugural Dean of the College of Health Sciences, the Program Director must provide effective leadership and management of the program and is responsible for leading the program through organization and development, by securing accreditation and maintaining compliance (ARC-PA) and fiscal management, while meeting the excellent standards in the Health Sciences for which the University is known. This includes leading curriculum development, development of clinical sites and recruitment and management of faculty and staff and by ensuring that elements of the curriculum and program are in place to meet accreditation and credentialing requirements for the degree, tracks, and certificates that are required.  The director will supervise the medical director and the instructional faculty and staff in all activities that directly relate to the PA program. The director will collaborate closely with the Admissions and Marketing departments on admissions policies, recruitment of students and marketing the program. This position is a tenure track, twelve-month appointment.

Requirements:

Graduate level degree as a Physician Assistant (PA) or a Doctoral degree in a related field;

A minimum of three years of full-time higher education experience;

Current or emeritus certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA);

Former program director experience (or equivalent), or coordinator of clinical education (or equivalent) is preferred;

Knowledge of or experience with ARC-PA specialized accreditation, perhaps a clinical specialty is preferred; and

Current, or ability to obtain, unencumbered licensure to practice as a PA in the state of Pennsylvania.

Alvernia University is a growing co-educational Catholic Franciscan institution dedicated to academic and professional leadership based in the liberal arts tradition. The University is committed to equal opportunity and inclusive excellence. Alvernia actively seeks to increase diversity among its students, administrators, faculty, and staff by providing educational, working and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people and advance inclusive excellence. Through its main campus in Reading and locations in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the University serves 3,000 students of diverse backgrounds from around the country.

Alvernia University is being assisted by the partners of Hyatt-Fennell. Application materials should be submitted to alvernia@Hyatt-Fennell.com. Applications include a letter of application with current curriculum vitae, teaching philosophy statement, research statement, official transcripts, and contact information for five professional references. All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Alvernia University is an equal opportunity employer committed to Franciscan values and where all employees share the responsibility for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.  This shows in the performance of their roles while demonstrating service orientation, respect for all, intellectual curiosity, solution and focus innovation, and mutual accountability.