Director of Learner Success & Wellness

The University of California San Diego School of Medicine Richard C. and Rita L. Atkinson Physician Assistant Education program invites applications for a 12-month, full-time position to serve as founding Director of Learner Success and Wellness (DLSW) and principal faculty. The DLSW position is created with an aim to maximize learner access to support services designed to address retention, sense of belonging, wellness, academic success, and professional identity development.

The duties and responsibilities of the DLSW are as follow:

• Ensure preparation, development and implementation of strategies, systems, processes, learning experiences and networks that support achievement of the academic and career outcomes.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the learning sciences literature, including remediation strategies both generally in higher education and specific to physician assistant education.
• Liaises with School of Medicine and UC San Diego learning specialist leads to ensure that best practices are implemented.
• Assess, innovate, and implement strategies to improve learner support services across the physician assistant curriculum and monitor academic progress as Chair of the Learner Progress Committee (LPC).
• Manage and supervise academic intervention and advising for physician assistant learners, including tracking academic progress, initiating student contact, interpreting assessment instruments, and advise learners on how to enhance learning and performance.
• Integrate evidence-based approaches to supporting learners from diverse backgrounds to academic success, wellness, and belonging and assist learners in integrating into the institution's environment.
• Empower students to achieve academic success and social adjustment through a variety of activities including academic coaching, student learning centers, academic preparation and success coursework, tutoring, and life skills support.
• Collaborate with School of Medicine personnel to facilitate learner wellness needs and access available resources.
• Serve as the program's representative for learners with disabilities and liaise with the UC San Diego Office for Students with Disabilities.

Didactic teaching responsibilities include teaching, evaluating, and advising didactic and clinical year physician assistant students. This position includes a clinical release day to provide clinical care in the USCD Medical Center system.

Additional duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Attend meetings, committees, events, and activities of the Program, department, and University as assigned
• Participate in scholarly activity, professional activity, and research as mutually agreed with the program director
• Other duties and activities as assigned by the program director

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in physician assistant studies from an ARC-PA accredited program
• Current certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
• California physician assistant license (or be eligible to obtain a California PA license at the time of hire)
• One (1) year of experience in higher ed academia
• Three (3) years of clinical experience
• Bring a passion for education and be aligned with the UC San Diego School of Medicine Physician Assistant Education Program mission, vision, core values, and goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Masters, DMSc/DHSc, PhD/EdD) in education, teaching, or learning sciences
• Knowledge and experience with Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant current standards
• Managerial and leadership experience
• Three (3) years or more experience in physician assistant education
• Five (5) years or more clinical experience

Special Conditions

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

Applying

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply to Job Opening #120696 at:

https://employment.ucsd.edu/director-of-learner-success-and-wellness-120696/job/22186296

About San Diego

UC San Diego Health Sciences is a top-ranking, $1 billion dollar plus future oriented organization, encompassing 14 departments (12 clinical, 2 basic sciences), 2 professional schools (School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), 2 hospitals, and various other programs and units all dedicated towards fulfilling the Health Sciences missions. As a top-ranking, future oriented organization, UC San Diego Health Sciences offers challenging career opportunities in a fast-paced and innovative environment.

The Vice Chancellor's Office follows a progressive philosophy of career-path development for its employees.

The Medical Education Division supports the education, training and co-curricular activities of 536 medical students, 800 residents and fellows, as well as the faculty, physician and healthcare providers at UCSD's School of Medicine, its' Medical Centers, and affiliates. It consists of Admissions & Student Affairs (including Health Sciences Financial Aid), Undergraduate Medical Education, Graduate Medical Education, Continuing Medical Education, Diversity & Community Partnerships, Anatomical Preparation Services, Educational Computing, Events Management, the Simulation Training Center and a central business office. The School of Medicine Graduate Programs consist of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Neurosciences Graduate Program, Medical Scientist Training Program and the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.