Department Chair of the Physician Assistant Program

The University of Saint Mary invites nominations and applications for a new Department Chair of the Physician Assistant (PA) Program. Founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1923, Saint Mary is a Catholic, liberal arts University that educates students of diverse backgrounds to realize their God-given potential and prepares them for value-centered lives and careers that contribute to the well being of our global society.  Originating as a small academy for young women, the University has transformed from a boarding academy and a women’s junior college into what it is today – a fully accredited university with over 1,000 students (men and women) across three campuses, offering 27 undergraduate degrees, six graduate programs, including a Doctoral of Physical Therapy program, and three online programs.  With a student-to-teacher ratio of 12 to 1, Saint Mary has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and personalized attention from expert professors.  The strategic direction of the University today, based upon it’s vision for the future is healthcare.

The Department Chair of the Physician Assistant Program (Chair) must be both a leader with vision and a manager, capable of and committed to articulating and implementing the mission of the University of Saint Mary (USM) and the PA Program.  The new Chair will be responsible for marshalling the energies of the entire program to achieve its stated goals and objectives.  This position represents a unique opportunity for a dynamic professional to develop the curriculum and accrediting materials for the new Program, and be responsible for leadership within the program, its faculty and students.  Reporting to the VP of Academic Affairs and a member of the Academic Leadership Council, the Chair is responsible for all aspects of the Physician Assistant’s Program including personnel oversight, the preparation of the program budget, the acquisition of external funds to enhance the mission of the program, managing all aspects of the accreditation process, and the continual monitoring and assessment of the program.

The Chair must be a master level NCCPA-certified PA (doctorate preferred), have eligibility for Kansas licensure, at least 3-5 years experience as a PA at a clinical site, and administration experience in an educational setting, particularly medical or PA education. Previous PA program development and ARC-PA accreditation experience is highly desirable.  The applicant should have: strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated excellence in clinical practice, demonstrated leadership and management experience, and some teaching experience.  The applicant should be knowledgeable about PA programs (fiscal management, planning, development) as well as the accreditation process for PA programs.  Applicants with evidence of prior creativity and experience working within an established PA program will receive priority. This is a twelve-month, tenure track appointment.   Salary and rank are commensurate with experience and qualifications. 

The University of Saint Mary [www.stmary.edu] is being assisted by the partners of the search firm: Hyatt•Fennell LLC.  Nominations and application materials should be submitted to:

Cheryl Hyatt
UnivStMary@hyatt-fennell.com
www.HYATT-FENNELL.com
724-242-0476

Application materials should include a focused letter of interest, a current résumé, and contact information for five professional references.   All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential.