Dean and Chief Academic Officer

Job Description

Shape the Future of Osteopathic Medical Education in the Greater Phoenix region as Dean and Chief Academic Officer of The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona’s newest College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine (The Valley COM) seeks an innovative and collaborative leader to serve as its next Dean and Chief Academic Officer (CAO). Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Dean/CAO serves as the institution’s chief academic executive and provides leadership for all academic, accreditation, faculty, student affairs, and clinical education functions of the College.

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As a key member of the executive leadership team, the Dean/CAO will advance the College’s mission by developing and executing a strategic vision for osteopathic medical education. The successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of the evolving healthcare landscape and the competencies required of future physicians, ensuring that curriculum design, educational delivery, and student support systems prepare graduates to excel in a dynamic and increasingly complex healthcare environment.

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The Dean/CAO will lead the College through critical phases of infrastructure development, including accreditation, academic program implementation, faculty recruitment, clinical partnership expansion, and long-term strategic growth. This individual must meet all qualifications and competencies established by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA-COCA) and serve as a champion for academic excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous quality improvement.

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Located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, The Valley COM represents one of the newest and most exciting opportunities in medical education today. Established in 2022, the College is backed by physicians and was created to address the growing physician workforce needs of Arizona and the Southwest while advancing a modern, technology-enabled model of osteopathic medical education. The institution received AOA-COCA Pre-Accreditation in 2025 and welcomed its inaugural class in July 2026.

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With only 46 accredited and 9 pre-accredited Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine operating across the United States, The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine represents a unique opportunity to join one of a select number of institutions educating the next generation of osteopathic physicians. The Valley COM is positioned to attract highly qualified students from across the nation while advancing its mission to develop physician leaders committed to service, innovation, and whole-person care.

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According to the most recent projections from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the United States could experience a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, driven by population growth, an aging population, and increasing healthcare demands.

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Through its planned enrollment and educational mission, The Valley COM will contribute meaningfully to addressing this workforce challenge, with the capacity to graduate approximately 180 new osteopathic physicians annually with a majority of residency placements in the State of Arizona, helping expand access to care across Arizona, the Southwest, and the nation.

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For the next Dean, Phoenix represents a chance to lead at the intersection of educational excellence, healthcare transformation, and community impact within one of the nation’s most exciting and rapidly evolving metropolitan regions.

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OPPORTUNITY PROFILE

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The Valley COM offers a rare opportunity to shape one of the nation’s newest Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine at a pivotal moment in healthcare. The ideal Dean and Chief Academic Officer will be a respected academic physician leader who combines strategic vision, entrepreneurial mindset, and operational excellence. This individual will possess the leadership experience necessary to guide The Valley COM through remaining accreditation milestones, growth, and long-term success while establishing a premier College of Osteopathic Medicine recognized for educational quality, clinical partnerships, student achievement, and service to the communities it serves.

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Qualifications (AOA-COCA Element 2.1 Dean Qualifications)

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• A COM must have a Dean who is qualified for the position by education, training, and experience to provide effective leadership in education, scholarly activity, and patient care.
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• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from a COCA-accredited college of osteopathic medicine.
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• Unrestricted medical license at some time in career, with no sanctions or suspensions during period of licensure.
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• AOA and/or ABMS board certification at some time in career.
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• At least five (5) years of proven experience within the last ten (10) years in academic leadership roles that include budget management authority.
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• Ability to satisfy all AOA-COCA qualifications and competencies required of a Chief Academic Officer.
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• Full-time commitment to The Valley COM.
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• Outstanding executive leadership and management skills; Strong experience as COM Dean or Assistant/Associate Dean; Exceptional human relations skills; Willingness to help grow the College (class size increase, additional locations, branch campuses, etc.).
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PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY

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For immediate, confidential consideration, please submit a CV and cover letter to The Valley COM’s executive search partner, Eric Dickerson , at View email address on ziprecruiter.com or View email address on ziprecruiter.com , or call directly at View phone number on ziprecruiter.com.

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Application Link: -and-chief-academic-officer-phoenix-az-10185

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The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to excellence, innovation, and service.