Director, Physician Assistant Program

The Physician Assistant (PA) Program is an academic professional graduate program within the Penn State College of Medicine.

The Director of the Physician Assistant Program reports directly to the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs. The Program Director works in close partnership with the other College of Medicine Educational Leadership including the Associate Dean for Medical Education, Assistant Dean for Learning Environment and Clinical Education, Associate Dean for Evaluation and Assessment, Senior Director for Educational Affairs, the Medical Director, Principal Faculty, and Professional Staff to develop the mission, vision, structures, systems, and processes which support the College of Medicine’s strategic goals for education.

This position is an administrative position with a faculty appointment through the Penn State College of Medicine. The PA Program Director has voice and vote at Faculty Organization meetings and may serve on various University Committees. The Program Director is responsible to lead the PA Program through the accreditation process with the ARC-PA.

The Program Director is responsible for leadership of the PA Program, its faculty, students and the recruitment of those students. The program is comprised of medical director, three full-time principal faculty , three professional full time staff positions including an Education Program Specialist, Manager of Accreditation, Monitoring and CQI, and Director of Admissions, a part time Clinical Education Program Assistant, and 30 students in each of two classes.

Specific duties within this role include:

Enrollment Planning and Management

• Develop a recruitment strategy for marketing the program to graduate students
• Develop the Admissions Process which includes systems for collecting and processing applications, offering selected students interviews, actual interview of students, offers of acceptance, and matriculation data management
• Prepare enrollment projections
• Oversee the admissions process or delegate a faculty member to assist in these efforts
• Oversee the interview and acceptance processes
• Meet with potential applicants during recruitment events
• Ensure that the website contains pertinent information regarding the program, pre-requisite courses, health care experience requirements, and academic requirements (science GPA, overall GPA, and scores of standardized examinations)
• Manage the matriculation process to ensure a well-qualified, diverse class of graduate studentsII. Budget Planning, Development, and Management 
• Work with the developed budget to make appropriate suggestions for having sufficient resources for program operation
• Develop capital expenditure plan, prioritize, and recommend acquisitions
• Work with members of the College of Medicine in the area of shared resources whenever possible
• Recommend facilities modifications and renovations
• Assist in seeking external funding and grants, whenever possible III. Management of Program Affairs

. Budget Planning, Development, and Management

• Work with the developed budget to make appropriate suggestions for having sufficient resources for program operation
• Develop capital expenditure plan, prioritize, and recommend acquisitions
• Work with members of the College of Medicine in the area of shared resources whenever possible
• Recommend facilities modifications and renovations
• Assist in seeking external funding and grants, whenever possible.

Management of Program Affairs

• Establish program mission, goals, vision, and program and course learning outcomes for successful program completion working with other members of the PA faculty and staff
• Recruit, orient, supervise program faculty, medical director, and administrative staff
• Conduct faculty/staff meetings and establish committees, as needed
• Ensure that proper databases, records, and documents are maintained and updated, as needed
• Ensure appropriate safety measures are implemented in department office and laboratory areas
• Evaluate program personnel with respect to annual performance objectives and job descriptions
• Ensure that all PA personnel and student policies are consistent with federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations
• Oversee and assist in the securing and maintaining clinical affiliates
• Ensure that equipment and facilities are maintained
• Submit an Annual Report to the Vice Dean of Educational Affairs

Provide Academic Leadership 

• Teach appropriate courses within the PA Program
• Recruit, orient, and evaluate program faculty, the medical director, and administrative staff
• Ensure curriculum/program revision and update to keep pace with technologic and scientific advances, current PA standards of practice, and educational theory/practice
• Provide faculty promotion and tenure recommendations
• Approve syllabi and textbook recommendations
• Assign/approve non-instructional activities for faculty
• Promote academic excellence and innovation and ensure program meets/exceeds accreditation standards
• Oversee the tracking of enrolled and graduating students consistent with ARC-PA requirements
• Develop Accreditation Documents
• Facilitation of the ARC-PA Site VisitationV. Personal and Professional Leadership