Chair/Program Director, Department of Physician Assistant Studies

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Job Description

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Business Unit: Rush Medical Center

Hospital: Rush University Medical Center

Department: Physician Assistant-CHS

Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 4:30:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (

Pay Range: $65.00 - $110.00 per hour

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush's anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. This role has a corresponding incentive plan based on multiple factors. incentive compensation and additional benefits can be found on our Rush benefits page (

Job Summary

The Chair/Program Director oversees the administrative operations of the Physician Assistant (PA) program in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies within the College of Health Sciences. The chair/program director provides leadership for academic, clinical, and research activities within the PA program, ensuring excellence in teaching, curriculum development, clinical education, and student success. The chair/program director represents the PA program within Rush University, across the medical center, and in national and international professional communities to advance the program's mission. This role supports the Rush mission, vision, values, and practitioner-teacher model by fostering innovation in PA education, facilitating faculty and staff development, and maintaining program accreditation and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Supports the mission, vision, goals and strategic objectives of the college, university and medical center.
• Provides leadership for the development and implementation of the vision, mission and strategic plan of the department's educational programs and patient care services.
• Ensures the quality of the educational program(s) offered within the department as demonstrated by program outcomes and rankings (where available).
• Ensures the quality of clinical and support activities provided by the department, as applicable.
• Develops and maintains an effective research program within the department.
• Maintains financial integrity of the department.
• Supports professional, community and continuing education service activities within the department.
• Provides faculty and staff development and a positive and productive work environment.
• Promotes diversity within the department, college, university and medical center.

Program Administration And Department Operations

• Reports to the Dean, College of Health Sciences for all academic department activities.
• Establishes goals and objectives for all department functions.
• Responsible for the organization of the department and for the execution of the Medical Center, University, and College policies insofar as they affect the department.
• Accountable for the professional activities of each department member as such activities relate to the department.
• Fosters intradepartmental communication through regular faculty meetings and frequent consultation with the faculty of the department.
• Fosters extra-departmental communication throughout Rush on issues involving the department.
• Assures compliance with institutional, state, federal, and professional agency regulations and accrediting agency standards.
• Ensures compliance with the Rules of Governance of Rush University and the Policies and Procedures of the College of Health Sciences by all members of the department faculty.
• Participates in and develops community service in the department.
• Promotes philanthropic development.
• Responsible for all programmatic data (i.e. accreditation data, student records, internal reporting).
• Responsible for establishing a culture of collegiality and collaboration within the department and across the colleges.
• Assumes other duties related to chairperson role as assigned by the Dean of the College of Health Sciences.

Faculty/Staff

• Assures that there are the appropriate number of faculty/staff necessary to accomplish the defined goals and objectives of the department and meet accreditation requirements.
• Establishes the optimal mix of faculty activities in the areas of education, research and administration in a manner that allows for accomplishment of department goals and objectives and recognizes the various specialties, expertise and career objectives/promotion of each faculty member.
• Maintains a committed faculty through a recruitment program which will promote diversity among members in the pursuit of excellence in practice, education, and research.
• Oversees faculty and staff evaluation and development.

Budget And Finance

• Defines and assures availability of resources (such as space, equipment, technical and clerical support) necessary to support the department.
• Makes recommendations to the Dean annually regarding the department budget, including both operational and capital expenses, and manages the department within the approved budget.
• Develops sources of non-operational revenues such as endowments, grants, contracts and gifts.

Educational Program

• Provides oversight for the educational program(s) including:
• Marketing of programs and recruitment/selection of students, in collaboration with marketing and admissions.
• Quality standards and all educational activities include maintenance of specialized programmatic accreditation and compliance with institutional, state, federal, and professional agency regulation and accreditation standards.
• Student advising.
• Leads and provides oversight for development and evaluation of curricula in conjunction with the college/university curriculum committees.
• Actively participates in the department's teaching program.
• Ensures that appropriate clinical affiliate sites are established and maintained for students.

Research Programs

• Supports the college agenda for allied research partnerships with clinical operations.
• Reviews all grant applications and research proposals emanating from the department with respect to appropriateness of purpose.
• Promotes evidence-based practice and research and the generation and dissemination of new knowledge in the field.

Requirements

• Graduate-level degree (Master's or higher) in Physician Assistant Studies or a closely related field.
• Current or eligible for State of Illinois PA licensure.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience as a Physician Assistant, including at least 5 years in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the post-secondary level.
• Associated credentials in a field appropriate to providing academic leadership for the department
• Demonstrated abilities in teaching, research and scholarship, student advisement, committee service, management, and administration.
• Active in professional associations: demonstrated leadership role in organizations or societies external to Rush University related to the profession.
• Knowledge of clinical practice and management in an academic medical institution, experience in practice (preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (e.g., EdD, PhD, DHSc) in a relevant discipline.
• Experience in programmatic accreditation processes (e.g., ARC-PA).
• Demonstrated success in faculty development, strategic planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Experience in grant writing, research funding, or philanthropic development.

Disclaimer:

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Position Chair/Program Director, Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Location US:IL:Chicago

Req ID 21725

If you have questions about this posting, please contact [email protected]