Chair- New York Medical College Department of Physical Therapy

New York Medical College, an affiliated institution of Touro University, is conducting a search for Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) based in Westchester County, New York. The new Chair will be hired at the rank of Associate Professor/Professor, depending on experience and qualifications. This is a full-time, 12-month position. Consideration will be given as to whether the individual hired as department chair will also be appointed as Program Director of Physical Therapy based on academic degree, clinical background and research/scholarship interest. Other departments in SHSP include the Departments of Speech-Language Pathology and Public Health as well as a master’s program in Bioethics that currently is administered by the Dean’s Office.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An earned academic doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Sc. or equivalent in a closely related field). Potential applicants from backgrounds other than physical therapy including sports medicine, rehabilitation sciences and kinesiology/exercise science are encouraged to apply;
• Holds or is eligible to hold the rank of associate professor or professor;
• A minimum of five years of full-time higher education experience, with a minimum of five years of full-time experience in a related field/program;
• Experience in curriculum development and assessment;
• Experience in management of academic program resources such as budgets, faculty and staff, and facilities;
• Excellent leadership skills;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• A strong record of teaching and evidence of scholarship;
• Collaborative reputation and spirit;
• Demonstrated energy and initiative to grow/expand the physical therapy program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensed Physical Therapist (DPT/PT) who is eligible for licensure in the state of New York;
• Experience in CAPTE accreditation;
• History of scholarship in the field of physical therapy including presentations and peer-reviewed publications;
• Previous experience as a DPT program director;
• Experience with Problem-Based Learning (PBL):
• Recent and relevant clinical experience as a practicing physical therapist;
• Evidence of leadership in a professional physical therapy organization at a state or national level.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates with experience and content expertise in one or more of the following areas: neurologic physical therapy (adult or pediatrics), cardiopulmonary physical therapy, acute care/medically complex patients, sports medicine, biomechanics/biomedical engineering, kinesiology/exercise science, rehabilitation science, electrotherapeutic or thermal modalities or other physical therapy-related fields.

Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.

Responsibilities:

• Administration of the Department of Physical Therapy
• Supervision and management the department faculty (six full-time faculty members) and staff (two full-time administrative staff members);
• Manage the fiscal operations of the department in coordination with the Dean’s Office;
• Annual evaluation of faculty and staff performance;
• Mentoring of departmental faculty;
• Ensure college, school and departmental policies and procedures are followed;
• Service on critical school-wide committees such as the Dean’s Leadership Council, Academic Policy Council and the Academic Leadership Team.
• Administration and/or oversight of DPT Program, which includes the following:
  • Coordination of the admissions process with the departmental Admissions Committee and Associate Dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management;
  • Coordination of class scheduling;
  • Coordination of clinical education with Directors of Clinical Education;
  • Mentoring of students;
  • Development and maintenance of communication system for student performance and professional behaviors;
  • Development and maintenance of programmatic outcomes tracking the system, evaluation of the program each semester, and provision of recommendations to the Dean for improvement;
  • Maintenance of requirements for CAPTE accreditation.
• Administration of on-campus physical therapy clinic (proposed but not yet operational)
• Teaching;
• Scholarship;
• College, School and professional service.

About the Department of Physical Therapy

The School of Health Sciences and Practice provides our students a perspective on physical therapy that does not occur in a traditional medical school environment. Our students are able to learn state-of-the-art screening techniques for risk factors and early indicators of illness, and how to design health and wellness programs. These skills complement those they learn for treating patients in acute-care settings, rehabilitation centers, home care and long-term care settings. Our ability to integrate the education of our students in the School of Health Sciences and Practice with medical and foundation sciences through coursework with faculty of the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences is truly unique and unmatched by other programs in this country.

Being part of a major university medical campus provides us access to faculty who are experts in their field, state-of-the-art facilities, and clinical environments that promote the integration of the theory and practice of physical therapy. Our human anatomy lab enables our students to perform full-body cadaver dissection and our spacious clinical lab areas are accessible to our students 24 hours a day. Close ties to area clinics and groups of individuals with disabilities allows our students to see and work with patients even while still in the classroom setting.

The clinical research and scholarship of our program faculty is diverse, including areas such as the application of genomics to clinical practice, biomechanical predictors of injuries in runners, balance assessment of children with autism, cost and value factors related to low back pain, cultural competency and spirituality in physical therapy, and dosage effects of robot-assisted rehabilitation for adults and children with neurologic pathologies. We are proud of research funded partnerships that include Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Hospital, Blythedale Children’s Hospital, Stevens Institute of Technology, MIT, and Achilles International.

The first priority of our program continues to be excellence in the education of physical therapy students. Our foundational sciences are taught by faculty of our School of Medicine and Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences. The clinical coursework in physical therapy is taught by program faculty assisted by expert clinicians from many excellent clinics located within the Hudson Valley. Students observe and work with patients in the classroom, at Westchester Medical Center, and while on field trips at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Helen Hayes Hospital, and the Bronx VA Hospital. In addition, our program has one of the most well-established problem-based learning structures in the country. Our class size is small, our attention to student performance is high, and thus, our graduates excel in clinical practice.

We believe that close professional relationships between faculty and students are crucial for effective education at a doctoral level. Thus, our class size target remains limited to 44 students, despite the trend of many schools to increase their class sizes. Students are assigned to faculty members for professional development and advisement, and an open-door policy exists between all students and faculty. With a small class size, high attention to student performance, and devoted faculty, our graduates excel in their education and eventual clinical practice. Our National Licensure Exam first-time passing rate of 99% over the past three years, well above state and national averages, speaks for itself.

Our applicants now come to us from across the entire nation, and from a host of foreign countries. Sharing a strong academic background, our students bring with them undergraduate majors that are varied and colorful. These include: anthropology, biology, business and marketing, exercise science, journalism, psychology, dance, education, and neuroscience. At New York Medical College we appreciate and gather eclectic groups of students who possess a broad spectrum of personal talents. Thus, our principal interest in the academic backgrounds of applicants to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is evidence of successful academic accomplishment and completion of the prerequisites that prepare students for our program. We believe that studying, learning, and growing with people of different cultural backgrounds and life experiences prepares students for the environments and communities in which they will ultimately practice physical therapy.

About the School of Health Sciences and Practice:

The School of Health Sciences and Practice is located just 15 miles north of the New York City limits, in suburban Westchester County, we offer exceptional opportunities to upward-mobile professionals from varied backgrounds. More than 3 million people live in our primary catchment area, which includes the scenic Hudson River valley and parts of Connecticut and encompasses a variety of community settings – urban, suburban, and rural.

Most of our faculty are actively involved with local health departments, health systems, and other agencies. The region has a rich history and highly developed network of social services, advocacy for children and the elderly, disability services, and vocational rehabilitation.

Our full-time weekday professional programs, in physical therapy and speech-language pathology, add a community-oriented perspective that does not occur in most other teaching settings. Service-based learning activities integrate health sciences and public health practice with the clinical arts.

About New York Medical College (NYMC):

Founded in 1860 in New York City, New York Medical College (NYMC) is one of the nation’s largest private health sciences universities. From our inception, we have had a strong history of involvement in the social and environmental determinants of health and disease, and special concern for the poor, the powerless, and the helpless. We have trained generations of students from all over the world to deliver skilled and compassionate medical care, explore the basic science questions that lead to important discoveries, and provide leadership in the field of public health, rehabilitative science, and essential services to people with specialized care needs.

NYMC shares a suburban campus with Westchester Medical Center and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, the major hospital components of the 1,700-bed healthcare system than spans 10 hospitals on 8 campuses across New York’s Hudson Valley region. The NYMC campus institutions – School of Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Practice, Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC, and Touro School of Health Sciences’ nursing program at NYMC –serve a large catchment area that enables our students to treat and work with culturally and economically diverse populations, and to pursue a wide range of career, residency and internship opportunities. Our other affiliate hospitals, private clinics, and federally qualified community health centers are some of the finest in the tri-state area, and our faculty is unsurpassed in their dedication and skill. 

NYMC is distinguished by its inclusive and humanistic approach to education. Historically, we were ahead of our time in admitting and graduating women and students of color. As an affiliate of the Touro University System for the last ten years, we are enjoying a new era of growth, diversity and opportunity, illustrated by recent innovations such as our Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, Biotechnology Incubator and impressive growth in applications and fundraising. After more than 160 years, NYMC is stronger than ever – excellent news for our students and the populations they serve.

Application Process:

Please submit all applications electronically via the University’s portal at: https://nymccareers-touro.icims.com/jobs/intro

Complete applications should include the following:

1. Cover Letter that outlines specific qualifications and credentials, teaching experience and accomplishments
2. Up-to-Date CV;
3. Names and addresses (including email and phone number) of five professional references. References will be contacted only with the applicant’s approval.

Applications received by April 29, 2022 will receive priority consideration.  Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

* Funding for this position is dependent upon board and budget approval *