Director, Doctor of Medical Science (Online Doctoral Physician Associate Program)

• Provide overall academic and administrative leadership for the online doctoral Physician Associate program.
• Establish and maintain a clear academic vision and strategic direction consistent with the mission of the College and University.
• Ensure the program curriculum, policies, and educational practices support the development of highly competent entry-level Physician Associates.
• Remain current with professional standards, expectations, and best practices for doctoral PA education.
• Collaborate with college leadership and university offices on program planning, resources, enrollment, scheduling, policies, and strategic initiatives.
• Participate in institutional committees and university initiatives as appropriate.
• Represent the program to internal and external stakeholders, professional organizations, clinical partners, and other relevant constituencies.

• Provide leadership, mentoring, supervision, and evaluation for full-time faculty.
• Recruit, orient, mentor, and evaluate adjunct faculty in collaboration with appropriate college and university processes.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and academically rigorous faculty culture.
• Ensure faculty maintain appropriate qualifications, professional development, teaching effectiveness, and scholarly engagement.
• Support faculty development related to online teaching, assessment, curriculum design, clinical education, and emerging practices in PA education.
• Coordinate faculty workload and teaching assignments in collaboration with college leadership.
• Facilitate regular faculty meetings and promote effective communication across the program.

• Lead ongoing assessment of program effectiveness and learner outcomes.
• Establish and monitor measures of student achievement, progression, retention, graduation, certification examination performance, clinical competence, and other relevant outcomes.
• Use assessment data to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities for innovation.
• Develop and implement continuous quality-improvement initiatives based on assessment findings.
• Ensure program-level assessment activities are systematic, documented, and aligned with institutional and professional expectations.
• Monitor learner feedback and outcomes and work with faculty to address identified needs.
• Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Oversee the ongoing review, evaluation, and development of the curriculum in collaboration with faculty and college leadership.
• Ensure curricular content reflects current evidence, clinical practice, healthcare delivery, professional competencies, and the evolving role of the Physician Associate.
• Support effective integration of didactic, clinical, scholarly, and professional development experiences within the doctoral curriculum.
• Promote innovative and evidence-based approaches to online graduate and doctoral education.
• Ensure appropriate program and curriculum alignment.

• Maintain strong relationships with education partners and the broader PA professional community.
• Remain current in PA practice, healthcare delivery, certification, licensure, and professional education.
• Encourage faculty and learner engagement with professional organizations and the PA profession.

• Promote a culture of scholarship, research, and evidence-based practice within the program.
• Foster faculty and learner engagement in research, scholarly activity, presentations, publications, and professional dissemination.
• Participate in scholarly activity appropriate to the candidate’s expertise and academic appointment.

• Ensure the program operates in accordance with applicable institutional policies and professional and accreditation standards.
• Coordinate preparation of program reports, self-studies, accreditation materials, and other required documentation in collaboration with college leadership and relevant university offices.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive program records.
• Initiate appropriate responses to changes in professional and accreditation standards.

• Current NCCPA board certification as a Physician Associate/Physician Assistant.
• Doctoral degree in Physician Associate Studies, Medical Science, Education, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience as a Physician Associate/Physician Assistant.
• Demonstrated experience working within entry-level Physician Associate/Physician Assistant education, preferably in an academic PA program.
• Demonstrated understanding of the curriculum, educational standards, clinical education requirements, and learner outcomes associated with entry-level PA education.
• Experience providing leadership, coordination, mentorship, or supervision of faculty and/or academic programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, administrators, learners, clinical partners, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Ability to effectively lead and support faculty in an online academic environment.

• Previous experience as a Program Director or Associate/Assistant Program Director of a masters-level or doctoral-level Physician Associate/Physician Assistant program.
• Experience with the development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of PA program curricula.
• Experience with PA program accreditation, accreditation reporting, or preparation for accreditation review.
• Demonstrated research experience and scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications, presentations, funded research, or other scholarly contributions.
• Experience supervising and evaluating full-time and adjunct faculty.
• Experience with online, hybrid, or technology-enhanced graduate or doctoral education.
• Experience with program assessment, outcomes assessment, and data-driven continuous improvement.
• Active engagement in national, state, or regional professional organizations related to Physician Associate/Physician Assistant education or practice.
• Experience mentoring faculty and/or students in scholarly activity and research.

• Academic leadership: Ability to establish a strong academic vision and advance program quality.
• Faculty leadership: Ability to develop, support, and effectively lead diverse full-time and adjunct faculty.
• Strategic thinking: Ability to align program priorities with institutional mission and evolving healthcare workforce needs.
• Assessment expertise: Ability to interpret learner and program outcomes and translate findings into meaningful improvements.
• Collaboration: Ability to build productive relationships across academic, clinical, and administrative environments.
• Innovation: Willingness to explore effective approaches to online doctoral education and PA professional education.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Enjoy 160 hours (4 weeks) of Paid Time Off, along with additional paid sick time for your well-being. 
• Paid Holidays: Benefit from 20 paid holidays, including a 10-day winter break with full pay. 
• Health and Wellness: Access medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family, ensuring comprehensive health care. 
• Life Insurance: Secure the future for yourself and your family with employer-paid Life Insurance coverage ranging from 1.5x to 3.0x your salary, depending on your role. 
• Disability Coverage: We cover both short-term and long-term disability, providing financial protection in unforeseen circumstances. 
• Retirement Planning: Contribute to your retirement with our 403(b) plan, with immediate 100% vesting. Franklin Pierce University also makes contributions to support your long-term financial goals upon one year of employment or if qualified with prior higher education employment. 
• Educational Benefits: Invest in your growth and development with our tuition benefits, allowing you and your qualifying family members to pursue undergraduate and graduate programs. 
• Additional Perks: Enjoy various perks, including pet insurance, accident insurance, critical illness coverage, free gym access, meal discount, and more!