Physician Associate Studies - Program Director, Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) program/Open Clinical Faculty Rank

Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor

The founding Program Director for the Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) program provides academic, administrative, and strategic leadership for a newly established post-professional doctoral program. This role is responsible for leading program launch and implementation, ensuring doctoral-level rigor, overseeing curriculum and assessment, supervising faculty, and managing day-to-day operations to support high-quality asynchronous delivery and sustainable program growth. The administration of this program will take place at the Tandent Center, situated within the Stamford Hospital campus, which houses the Department of Physician Associate Studies.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership, management, and administration of the DMSc program, including oversight of both standard and bridge/accelerated pathways.
• Lead the successful implementation and ongoing management of the approved 30-credit curriculum, including core coursework, concentration tracks, and the two-course doctoral capstone sequence.
• Collaborate with the Chair and MSPAS leadership on budgeting, enrollment planning, and resource allocation consistent with the approved program model.
• Contribute to marketing, recruitment, and external partnership efforts to support program growth and visibility.
• Partner with Enrollment Management to support admissions processes, including bridge and dual-degree pathways.
• Monitor student academic progress, retention, and time-to-completion across pathways.

Curriculum, Assessment, & Academic Oversight:

• Ensure implementation and ongoing evaluation of the curriculum to maintain doctoral-level rigor and alignment with stated learning outcomes.
• Coordinate academic scheduling, course sequencing, and faculty assignments to support year-round enrollment and high-quality asynchronous delivery.
• Monitor and assess program effectiveness through data-informed decision-making and continuous quality improvement processes.
• Recruit, orient, supervise, and evaluate program faculty teaching in the asynchronous online format, consistent with the planned faculty model (810 adjuncts) and additional full-time faculty line(s) as the program grows.
• Ensure program faculty adherence to approved syllabi, learning objectives, assessments, and university policies.

Academic & Professional Responsibilities:

• Deliver high-quality instruction for the DMSc program utilizing effective and inclusive pedagogical approaches.
• Maintain current expertise and professional competence through continuing professional development
• Maintain current professional licensure/certification as applicable.
• Oversee student capstone progression, ensuring timely completion and scholarly dissemination consistent with program expectations.
• Advise and mentor students in academic progress and professional development
• Address student concerns and academic issues in accordance with university policies.
• Engage in service to the program, department, college, university and profession through committee work, faculty governance, and other service-related activities.
• Engage in scholarly activities and/or clinical practice relevant to the discipline.
• Fulfill the roles and responsibilities of a clinical faculty member as outlined in the Faculty Handbook

Required Qualifications:

• Earned doctoral degree (DMSc preferred; DHS, PhD, EdD, MD or DO or equivalent considered.)
• Current licensure/certification as a Physician Assistant with NCCPA certification OR licensure as a physician (MD or DO) with demonstrated experience in PA education.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in PA education, including teaching, preceptorship, and/or participation in curriculum development
• Demonstrated engagement in scholarly and/or professional activity consistent with graduate-level faculty expectations
• Demonstrated leadership, coordination, or supervisory experience
• Demonstrated effective organizational and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a leadership role within a graduate or post-professional program.
• Experience overseeing doctoral-level assessment, capstone projects, and program evaluation.
• Familiarity with accreditation standards, program review, and continuous quality improvement processes.
• Experience with online asynchronous education delivery and/or the development of such programs.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

This position supports an online, asynchronous doctoral program, with a brief in-person residency, and is primarily performed in a remote or office-based environment. Responsibilities require extensive use of computer technology, learning management systems, and virtual communication platforms.

The position involves regular interaction with faculty, students, and university personnel through electronic communication and virtual platforms. Periodic on-campus presence may be required at the Stamford Hospital campus for meetings, recruitment activities, residency, or other university responsibilities, as determined by the Department Chair.

Application Instructions:

All applications must be submitted through the University's online application portal; materials submitted via email or other means will not be accepted or considered. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Interested applicants, please submit the following materials:

• Cover letter addressing the applicant's specific qualifications for this position
• Curriculum vitae/resum
• Contact information for three professional references
  • References will only be contacted if the candidate is invited for an on-campus interview**

*Note: Finalist candidates will be asked to submit a written statement (maximum of two pages) that describes their teaching philosophy and approach, specifically addressing how their teaching practices support the University's Mission.

**Letters of recommendation will also be requested from finalists.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For general questions about the position, please contact Stephanie Clines, PhD, LAT, ATC, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs for the College of Health Professions, at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.