Clinical Faculty - Surgery

Overview of Position

Trevecca’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program Clinical Faculty position is a full-time 12-month non-tenured track position at the rank of assistant or associate professor. The Clinical Faculty member will serve with the program’s clinical team and report to the Clinical Director. The Clinical Faculty member will also be responsible for certain duties in the didactic phase of the program, specifically lead teaching and coordinating the Introduction to Surgery course, which includes classroom and lab instruction. The Clinical Faculty member’s responsibilities will include assisting the Clinical Director and clinical team with managing the logistical demands of the PA program within its clinical phase operation, particularly the development and maintenance of clinical site and preceptor relationships and ongoing clinical curriculum and student development. The Clinical Faculty member will also provide the expertise necessary to oversee the delivery of Surgery instruction throughout the program’s didactic and clinical phases.

The desired faculty member is a highly motivated, team player who demonstrates creative vision and a commitment to excellence. This position requires surgical expertise, a love of teaching, and strong interpersonal, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills. It also requires external relationship-building skills and an ability to work effectively within the program and broader medical community. The PA Program is committed to the individual student, the legacy of Trevecca PA medical education, the community we serve, and compassionate care.

Major Job Duties and Responsibilities

(Include but are not limited to):

• Surgery Curriculum: Provide student instruction and oversee the implementation of the surgical components of the program curriculum, specifically:
  • Introduction to Surgery didactic course, which includes classroom and lab instruction
  • Surgical skills reviews for clinical students.
• Clinical Site and Preceptor Development and Retention:
  • Assist with clinical phase strategic planning and the acquisition, maintenance, and development of professional relationships with affiliated medical facilities and providers to ensure our program has an adequate inventory of clinical rotation sites and preceptors that provide quality clinical experiences for PA program students.
  • Assist with onboarding, support, and program coordination with clinical sites and preceptors, including communication of program expectations and standards and acquisition of required documents for supervised clinical practice experiences (Affiliation Agreements, Preceptor Agreements, etc.).
• Clinical Phase Assessment and Evaluation:
  • Assist with the initial and ongoing evaluation and oversight of clinical sites and preceptors utilized for supervised clinical practice experiences, to optimize student outcomes and ensure compliance with the ARC-PA and the PA program’s published standards.
  • Conduct site visits to evaluate and provide feedback to clinical sites, preceptors, and students.
• Participate in End of Rotation activities and assessments, Summative Evaluation assessments, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations for clinical and didactic students, as assigned.
• Provide course oversight and coordination, as assigned.
• Participate in curriculum development.
• Participate in student evaluation, assessment, and remediation.
• Provide student mentoring and advising, as assigned.
• Other teaching responsibilities as assigned for the clinical and didactic phases.
• Participate in the PA Program’s continuous self-assessment process and efforts involving the maintenance of the Program’s ARC-PA accreditation.
• Participate in University functions and support as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program or equivalent health care experience.
• Current certification as a PA-C by the NCCPA or equivalent health care certification.
• Current license or eligible for licensure as a PA (or equivalent health care profession) in the state of Tennessee.
• General surgery or surgical subspecialty experience.
• Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with the PA Program’s diverse spectrum of stakeholders, including clinical sites, preceptors, students, and alumni.
• Prior sales, marketing, or recruitment experience (preferred).
• Ability to travel (for activities related to clinical site and preceptor development and retention, networking, site visits, etc.) and to work non-standard hours, to include evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Proficient computer-based skills (i.e., software, analytical, and report writing skills), including the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, learning management systems, and online assessment platforms (preferred).
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of Trevecca Nazarene University and the TNU Physician Assistant Program.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Character

• Highly motived, result-driven, and committed to excellence.
• Effective at curricular oversight and instructional methods to develop important cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills in students and improve learning outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong skills in strategic planning and external relationship-building, with the ability to apply these skills to clinical site and preceptor development.
• Effective time- and project-management skills and proactive problem-solving ability.

Application Process

Interested parties who have a strong Christian testimony and are in agreement with the mission and values of Trevecca Nazarene University and the PA Program should submit a Trevecca Faculty/Administrator Application, Cover letter, and CV to Ms. Tasha Adams at tadams1@trevecca.edu.