Full-Time Principal Faculty, Physician Assistant Studies

The MGH Institute of Health Professions ("Institute") seeks an experienced, full-time principal faculty member to serve within its School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of PA Studies. The appointment is a non-tenure role available at all ranks, based on the candidate's education, experience, and record of accomplishment. Opportunities exist for an academic leadership role within the PA program, if desirable. The Institute is part of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the only degree-granting affiliate of the Mass General Brigham. The Institute encompasses two additional schools-the School of Nursing and the School of Healthcare Leadership-with numerous opportunities and programs to support interprofessional education and practice. The Mass General Brigham health system is home to the oldest, most established Harvard Teaching Hospitals and is the largest hospital-funded research enterprise in the United States with over $2 billion in annual research activities. The health system employs over 80,000 people across its broad range of academic medical centers, specialty and community hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, and more. The system provides world-class, state of the art clinical training and career opportunities for the PA program's trainees and graduates.

The principal faculty member should bring experience in PA education, curriculum design and evaluation, and scholarly pursuits. The primary duties and responsibilities include teaching, student advisement, institutional and professional service, and scholarship. As a principal faculty within the PA program, the faculty member will actively participate in defining and periodically updating the program's mission, goals, learning outcomes and graduate competencies; selecting applicants for admission; providing student instruction and mentorship; conducting assessments and evaluations of student performance; serving as a role model to student, modeling integrity, reflection, critical thinking, inclusion, collaboration, and empathy; offering academic counseling and advisement to students; designing and delivering remedial instruction; developing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating the PA program, including its admissions processes, curriculum, and program effectiveness; and peer mentorship.

The Department proposes a start date of January 1, 2024, but is open to considering an earlier/later start date.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES

The principal faculty member will work collaboratively with the Department Chair and Program Director each year to develop a work plan, spanning teaching, scholarship, and service with an opportunity for an academic administration role, if desired. The work plan will encompass the following areas and activities:

• Teaching and course direction (e.g., ~50-60% effort) in entry-level and post-professional programs, as appropriate to area of expertise and program needs.
• Service (e.g., ~20% effort) in program (including student advisement), department, school, Institute, and health system committees, working groups, and other service activities as well as time for participation in regional, national, or international professional organizations.
• Scholarship (e.g., teaching and learning, integration, application, or discovery) or research activities (e.g., ~20-30% effort) in one's area of expertise and interest.
• Administrative service to the PA program (e.g., preclinical education, clinical education, or admissions) can be considered with a resultant reduction in teaching effort.
• Clinical practice may be performed as part of or beyond a full-time teaching role, up to 20% FTE. If the work is performed outside of faculty time (consistent with Institute policy on outside work), this will represent additional income for the faculty member.

The Institute provides a wide array of career development resources and programs, research labs and centers for scholarly collaboration, and service opportunities across the campus and broader health system. The Institute also emphasizes interprofessional education and practice as well as a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across all its academic offerings and degree programs.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None anticipated; as a course director, the faculty member may supervisor guest lecturers, term lecturers, or teaching assistants; faculty may supervise graduate students and graduate assistants.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Will work as a faculty member and assume all such responsibilities in being an active and contributing member to the Department.
• Will need to be need to flexible with schedule, able to prioritize, able to self-monitor, able to work collaboratively with others (including in interprofessional teams), and able to track progress of multiple projects.
• As the PA program is an on-site, in-person training program, the faculty will be regularly present on campus (e.g., located in the Charlestown Navy in Boston, MA) and maintain office hours.

TRAINING:

• None anticipated; the Institute faculty use the D2L (Desire to Learn) Brightspace LMS with training available to new faculty not versed in management of content and courses on that platform.

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• Earned terminal academic degree for the discipline* (e.g., master's degree for PA)
• Minimum 5 years' experience in PA education/medical education
• Licensed or license-eligible in Massachusetts
• If a PA, current NCCPA certification; If a physician, current board certification
• Minimum 4 years of clinical practice experience
• Established record of service and scholarship in the health professions

*An earned doctorate relevant to higher education or healthcare (e.g., PhD, EdD, DrPH, DHSc, etc.) is preferred but not required.

Licensees should be in good standing with the respective state licensing authority and maintain their licensure and relevant certification throughout their employment.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge and experience in PA/medical education.
• Knowledge of the PA profession and current PA practice.
• Demonstrate competency as an effective, reflective teacher and advisor.
• Record of service to their discipline and/or higher education.
• Proficiency in educational technologies relevant to graduate health professions education.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of an interprofessional collaborative team.
• Ability to interact effectively and ethically (including setting appropriate boundaries) with students, faculty, staff, preceptors, and administrators.
• Ability to produce and disseminate scholarly works.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.

About MGH Institute of Health Professions

MGH Institute of Health Professions is a graduate school in Boston that provides entry-level and post-professional programs in Nursing, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Genetic Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies. The PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences and a PhD and Master of Science in Health Professions Education have been added in recent years to meet rising demand for highly educated health care professionals, educators, and researchers. Integrating classroom learning with research and clinical experience, the Institute grants doctoral degrees, master's degrees, awards certificates of advanced study, and offers continuing education to practicing professionals. The IHP is the only degree-granting affiliate in Mass General Brigham (MGB), the largest private employer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Institute has been recognized multiple times by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a "Great College to Work For." A leading health sciences educational institution, MGH Institute provides students with outstanding academic programs, many of which are ranked among the best in the nation. MGH Institute of Health Professions has announced an organization-wide anti-racism initiative to think boldly about race and bring together all members of the IHP community to address systemic racial injustice as well as oppression more broadly. The plan seeks to create a supportive and inclusive campus environment and better support the diverse communities the school serves. We are excited about this new initiative and are hiring employees who are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and will contribute to our anti-racism and anti-oppression approach.

EEO Statement

The MGH Institute of Health Professions is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff. We welcome nominations and applications from individuals who would bring diversity of experience, thought and practice to the Institute's research, teaching and clinical missions. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged.