Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor - University of Memphis - Lambuth

Company/Organization: University of Memphis - Lambuth
Location: Jackson, TN
Contact: Jacque Bradford
Email: jacque.bradford@memphis.edu
Website:https://workforum.memphis.edu/postings/40057

Item/Job/Service Description

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The University of Memphis CHS is seeking a Director of Clinical Education for a new Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).  The focus of this physical therapy education program is to train physical therapists who embody the pillars of service, leadership and patient-centered care within their community and the profession of physical therapy. The Director of Clinical Education will hold a faculty (academic or clinical) appointment and has administrative, academic, service, and scholarship responsibilities consistent with the mission and philosophy of the academic program. This individual should demonstrate competence in clinical education, teaching, and curriculum development. In addition, the Director of Clinical Education primary responsibilities will be to plan, coordinate, facilitate, administer, and monitor activities on behalf of the academic program and in coordination with academic and clinical faculty following THEC and Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) guidelines. Other responsibilities include course assessment, accreditation activities, academic advising, pre-admission advising and hosting annual career fair. Providing service to the college, university, and profession is also expected. The Director of Clinical Education will also recommend faculty and staff to support the development and implementation of the clinical education program.

The Director of Clinical Education will serve as a liaison between the physical therapy program and the clinical education site as part of his/her responsibilities. The Director of Clinical Education, in cooperation with other academic faculty, will establish clinical education site and facility standards, select and evaluate clinical education sites, and facilitate ongoing development of and communication with clinical education sites and clinical faculty. The Director of Clinical Education will be responsible for coordinating and managing the efforts of the academic program and clinical education sites in the education and preparation of physical therapy students.

SETTING:  

The College of Health Sciences (www.memphis.edu/healthsciences) is home to more than 50 full time faculty and staff members and currently serves approximately 1600 students majoring in one of five academic disciplines including undergraduate and graduate programs. The College recently received approval from THEC to begin a Doctor of Physical Therapy program housed on the Lambuth campus in Jackson, TN (Lambuth Campus - UofM Lambuth - The University of Memphis The College and University believes in the desirability of a small, rural campus that promotes academic excellence, a diverse community, and close student-teacher interaction. The DPT program will be delivered in newly renovated classrooms and labs, with ample room for faculty and staff offices, as well as student study areas. The main campus in Memphis is home to the Musculoskeletal Analysis Laboratory - College of Health Sciences - The University of Memphis, which is well-equipped with two 3-D motion capture systems, instrumented treadmill, isokinetic dynamometer, and multiple other pieces of equipment used for data analysis, and available to DPT program faculty and students. Multiple labs and research centers are available within CHS for collaboration. An additional research lab will be developed on the Lambuth campus for ease of faculty, students, and research collaborator access. Off-campus opportunities for collaboration are available with investigators at the University of TN Health Science Center, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and various industry partners in the medical device and rehabilitation sector. The University of Memphis is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a R1 research university, and the only community engaged public university in Tennessee.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develop, monitor, and refine the clinical education component of the DPT curriculum.
• Facilitate quality learning experiences for students during clinical education.
• Evaluate students’ performance, in cooperation with other faculty, to determine their ability to integrate didactic and clinical learning experiences, to progress within the curriculum, and determine readiness for entry into the clinical setting and entry-level clinical education practice. 
• Educate students, clinical and academic faculty about clinical education.
• Instruct courses, predominately the clinical education course series, assigned throughout the DPT curriculum. Select clinical learning environments that demonstrate characteristics of sound patient/client management, ethical and professional behavior, and currency with physical therapy practice.
• Maximize available resources for the clinical education program.
• Provide documented records and assessment of the clinical education component (including clinical education sites, clinical educators, contractual agreements, clinical site requirements, etc.).
• Ability to participate in independent or collaborative scholarly activities including the design, implementation and completion of products with dissemination through presentation or publications.
• Mentorship of students.
• Actively engage core faculty in clinical education planning, implementation, and assessment.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• An entry-level, professional degree in physical therapy (BS/MS PT) with an earned or an in-progress terminal academic degree (i.e., DHSc, EdD, PhD or other academic degree) or a professional DPT degree and clinical specialization or other advanced credentialing with a willingness to enroll in a terminal academic doctorate.
• Licensed or eligible for licensure within the state of Tennessee.
• Minimum of 3 years of full-time post-licensure clinical practice.
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical teaching and/or clinical coordination experience.
• Administrative experience with strong evidence of organizational skills, interpersonal, problem-solving, and counseling skills.
• Current knowledge and skill in the use of information and computer technology (e.g., word processing, email, database management) or proven ability to learn these skills.
• Able to work with students with special needs based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Knowledge of legislative, regulatory, legal, and practice issues affecting clinical education, students, and the profession of physical therapy.
• Member of the American Physical Therapy Association.
• Able to initiate, administer, assess, and document clinical education programs.
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills in English are required; Candidates must meet eligibility requirements to begin and continue working in the United States at the time of appointment.
• Able to work independently and coordinate work with colleagues and peers.
• Able to travel, as needed.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Clinical specialization or expertise in an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) specialty area.
• Earned doctoral degree or enrolled in or desire to pursue doctoral studies.
• Knowledge of educational, management, and adult learning theory and principles.
• Active in clinical practice, especially as applicable to clinical education.
• Held position as a clinical team leader, clinical manager or operations supervisor.
• Active involvement in professional activities at local, state, and/or national levels.
• Experience in classroom or laboratory instruction with graduate students, particularly physical therapist students.
• Involvement in professional community development activities.
• Earned status as an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to correspond effectively with various stakeholders including students, faculty, clinical instructors, and administrators.
• Strong organizational abilities to oversee and manage clinical placement paperwork, match students to appropriate sites, and ensure necessary requirements are met.
• Time management and multitasking capabilities to juggle scheduling, clinical site visits, student evaluations, and day-to-day clinical education operations.
• Ability to resolve issues or conflicts that may arise.
• Comfortable with technology and capable of learning new platforms and software.
• Interest in participating in scholarly work.
• Professional demeanor and ability to interact with charity towards students, staff, faculty, and clinical educators.
• Positive attitude and customer service skills are a must.

SALARY & BEGINNING DATE: 

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. The position is a full-time, non-tenure track fiscal-year (12 month) appointment, with the opportunity to increase base salary through use of the research incentive pay program. The University offers an excellent benefits package, and the state of Tennessee currently has no state income tax. Jackson and the surrounding areas maintain a very low cost of living relative to most parts of the country. The anticipated date of employment is July 1, 2024, although this can be flexible. 

How to Apply or Contact About Item/Service

The review of completed applications will begin immediately and may continue until the position is filled. The College welcomes a diverse set of applicants. Only applications submitted electronically at https://workforum.memphis.edu will be considered. 

Applicants are required to upload (1) a cover letter describing their qualifications and interest in the position, (2) curriculum vitae, and (3) three professional references—names and contact information of colleagues who can address the applicant’s professional preparation for this position. Applicants should receive a confirmation number when all application materials are received. For questions about this position, please contact Dr. Jacque Bradford, Search Committee Chair, at  jacque.bradford@memphis.edu.