The UTMB Department of Physician Assistant Studies was one of the first three programs in the state of Texas in 1971. Well known for its commitment to innovation, the aptitude of its graduates, and its history of accomplishments, the program’s alumni total is 2,473, which includes distinguished alumni that have held leadership position as TAPA officers, Texas Medical Board members, ARC-PA site visitors, AAPA officers, Program Directors in Texas and around the country. The five-year first-time taker average pass rate for the program is 92%.

The Department is uniquely poised for the development of new initiatives that leverage the existing talent and resources in forging new educational missions and directions. The selected Chair with be expected to continue the strong tradition of academic excellence, while developing an interprofessional curriculum that stands above all others.

The Chair will inherit substantial resources and an exceptional foundation of a Department that stands ready to assume an even greater role in educating and training the next generation of PAs and ensuring their professional growth, personal excellence, and recognition.

The Chair will have the opportunity to build upon the DPAS’s legacy that is well established at UTMB, while adding distinction to the organization through innovation and service. The successful candidate will provide direction and leadership for all aspects of the DPAS to ensure integration of services and alignment with UTMB’s strategic goals and objectives, including becoming a Top 20 health care provider among academic medical centers nationally. They will participate in the health science center’s long range strategic planning activities as a key member of the leadership team promoting excellence in collaborative education, team practice, research and, ultimately, the continuation of improving health of patients in Texas and beyond.

The successful Chair will be a nationally recognized leader in PA studies and will have made contributions to education and advocacy of the profession. This is an unparalleled opportunity for a PA executive with a desire to lead in a prestigious organization and to serve as an integral leader of UTMB during an evolutionary time in the delivery of healthcare services. The new leader will be part of a system that focuses on team-based education, patient care, and community service, where the impact is local and global.

Above all, the Chair for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies will promote UTMB to adapt and thrive in an evolving healthcare industry and will inspire a vision of defining the future of collaborative practice.

Established in 1971 and continuously accredited since 1973, the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at The University of Texas Medical Branch is currently composed of 18 faculty who have held leadership positions as: AAPA President, AAPA Chair of Board of Director, PAEA Board, State Chapter President, Member of JCAHO, State Chapter Committee Chairs; and collectively have over 100 international, national, and local presentations, and publications in dozens of peer reviewed journal articles.

The DPAS offers a two-year professional curriculum in PA Studies. The training program provides experiences in clinical practice, research, and professional services progressing from didactic to clinical courses and clinical rotations. Upon completion, students are awarded a master’s degree, Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS). The UTMB PA Program provides students with the basic and fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes for development into primary care PAs. The training program is designed to provide students with a flexible, broad-based curriculum offering didactic and clinical experiences in primary care medicine. The program’s vast clinical affiliation network offers a wide variety of medical learning experiences ranging from assignments at academic health science centers to community-based rural health experiences. Last, it is the program’s intent to instill the necessity to develop an inquisitive and self-structured approach to lifelong learning.

• Serve as the academic leaver and be responsible for overall operation of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies: organization, administration, fiscal management, continuous review and analysis, planning, and development.

• Maintain and ensure program quality in compliance with established accreditation standards.

• Ensure program operations are in harmony with the policies and regulations governing the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM) and UTMB.

• Manage the program and department budget, within established school and university parameters, ensuring it provides resources needed to carry out required activities.

• Direct and manage the process of recruiting and hiring faculty and staff.

• Supervise the medical director, principal faculty, instructional faculty, and staff in all activities that directly relate to the program and perform annual faculty and staff evaluations.

• Work closely with faculty of other university programs to develop, implement, and evaluate inter-professional curricula.

• Provide administrative oversight of admissions processes and participate by scoring qualifying applications, interviewing candidates, and rendering selection decisions.

• Designs original or review/modify, as appropriate, existing curricula to correlate with established or new course and program outcomes and implement curricula in harmony with the educational approach of the UTMB PAs program through active course direction and instruction.

• Participate in activities of state, regional, and national organizations to promote a positive image of the PA concept within academic, lay, and professional communities.

• The successful candidate will have earned a master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university in an area appropriate for PA education.

• Engaged in scholarly and educational activities at a level commensurate with the academic rank of Associate or Full Professor.

• They will also be a graduate of an accredited PA program, NCCPA certification, and eligible for license to practice in Texas; alternatively, current licensure as an allopathic or osteopathic physician in the state of Texas and certified by an ABMS or AOA‐approved specialty board.

• The ideal candidate will have five years or more of clinical experience and two years or more of PA or graduate medical education experience.

Compensation: 

Pay is commensurate with experience, but the general range offered for this role is $250k plus 20% incentive. Full benefits package is offered as well. 

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.