Director of Clinical Education- DMS

Job Description

Job Description

Major Responsibilities: The   Clinical Coordinator for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology (DMST) program, is fundamental in ensuring that our clinical education component meets the high standards set by programmatic accrediting bodies such as the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). These standards guarantee that our students receive comprehensive, high-quality clinical training that prepares them for successful careers as an entry level Sonographer.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Communication Management: Respond promptly to daily communications via email and voicemail, addressing inquiries promptly and professionally.
2. Policy Adherence and Ethical Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to the University's mission, policies, procedures, ethical standards, compliance with data protection regulations and pertinent legal regulations in all aspects of admission activities.
3. University Engagement: Participate in Commencement Exercises, new student orientation, university events, committees, self-studies, and University Commencement Ceremonies.
4. Special Projects: Execute special projects assigned by the President or supervisor.
5. Compliance Adherence:  Ensure compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, as well as FNU Policies, Procedures, Rules, and Regulation, the FNU Code of Ethics, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Florida Information Protection Act of 2014 (FIPA), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and all other applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
6. Assigned Duties: Undertake other assigned duties as required.

Responsibilities and Duties: The Clinical Coordinator is responsible for the organization, administration, and continuous review of the clinical education component of the DMST program. Key responsibilities include:

1. Clinical Site Management:
   • Selection and Evaluation: Identifying and evaluating clinical sites to ensure they meet JRC-DMS and CAAHEP standards. This includes assessing the availability of necessary equipment, the variety of sonographic procedures performed, and the qualifications of clinical instructors.
   • Affiliation Agreements: Establishing and maintaining formal agreements with clinical sites to outline the responsibilities and expectations of both the educational institution and the clinical site
2. Student Placement and Supervision:
   • Placement Coordination: Coordinating the placement of students at clinical sites, ensuring that each student has access to a various range of clinical practices
   • Supervision and Mentorship: Guaranteeing that students are supervised by credentialed sonographers who can provide guidance, mentorship, and constructive criticism
3. Curriculum Integration:
   • Clinical Curriculum Development: Collaborating with faculty to incorporate clinical experiences with the didactic curriculum, ensuring that students can apply theoretical knowledge in practical locations
   • Competency Assessment: Developing and implementing assessment tools to evaluate student competencies in various sonographic procedures. This includes using standardized evaluation forms to track progress and identify areas for improvement

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement: Maintaining the quality of the clinical education component is an ongoing process that involves:

1. Regular Site Visits:
   • Conduct consistent visits to clinical sites to monitor compliance with accreditation standards and to address any issues that may arise.
   • Gathering feedback from students and clinical instructors to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
2. Student and Site Evaluations:
   • Implementing a system for regular evaluation of both students and clinical sites. This includes collecting and analyzing data on student performance and site effectiveness
   • Using evaluation results to make informed decisions about site selection, curriculum adjustments, and student support strategies.
3. Professional Development:
   • Providing ongoing professional development opportunities for clinical instructors to ensure they remain current with industry standards and best practices
   • Motivating clinical instructors to pursue additional certifications and training to enhance their teaching and supervisory expertise.

Educational Qualifications: To meet the standards set by JRC-DMS and CAAHEP, the Clinical Coordinator must possess the following educational qualifications:

1. Minimum Degree Requirement:

• Possess an academic degree no lower than an associate degree and at least equal to that for which the graduates are being prepared possess the appropriate credential(s) specific to the concentration(s) that s/he coordinates; 
• (ref. CAAHEP Standards)

Professional Experience: The Clinical Coordinator must have substantial professional experience in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Key requirements include:

1. Clinical Experience:

• A minimum of two years of clinical experience as a practicing sonographer is required, have documented experience in supervision, instruction, evaluation, student guidance and in educational theories and techniques
• This experience ensures that the Clinical Coordinator has practical knowledge and skills in performing sonographic procedures.

1. Teaching Experience:
   • Experience in teaching or educational administration is highly valued. This includes previous roles as an instructor or coordinator in a sonography program
   • Teaching experience helps the Clinical Coordinator effectively manage the curriculum and support faculty development.

Certification and Credentialing: Certification by a nationally recognized sonography credentialing organization is mandatory. This includes:

1. ARDMS Certification:
   • Certification from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) in relevant specialties is required
   • This demonstrates the Clinical Coordinator’s expertise and commitment to maintaining high standards of practice.
2. Additional Certifications:
   • Additional certifications from organizations such as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) may also be beneficial

Leadership and Administrative Skills: The Clinical Coordinator must possess strong leadership and administrative skills to effectively manage the clinical education component. Key competencies include:

1. Program Management:
   • Ability to oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of the clinical education component. This includes coordinating student placements, managing clinical site relationships, and ensuring compliance with accreditation standards
2. Communication and Collaboration:
   • Excellent communication skills to interact with students, faculty, clinical site personnel, and accrediting bodies. Alliance with clinical sites to ensure quality clinical education is also essential
3. Quality Assurance:
   • Implementing quality assurance measures to guarantee that clinical sites provide a conducive learning environment and that students receive broad clinical training

**Documentation of experience in educational theories and techniques may include completed college courses, seminars, or in-service sessions on topics including, but not limited to, learning theory, curriculum design, test construction, teaching methodology, or assessment techniques. The Clinical Coordinator may also serve as the Concentration Coordinator for the concentration(s) for which the Program Director does not possess an appropriate credential. (copy from CAAHEP Standards)

Health & Safety:

• Must obtain the OSHA training within the first 30 days of employment and thereafter renew as required.
• Must obtain the CPR training within the first 30 days of employment and thereafter renew as required.
• Must obtain the HIV training within the first 30 days of employment and thereafter renew as required.

Physical Activities & requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk and talk or hear. 
• Average visual acuity is necessary to prepare or inspect documents.
• The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. 
• The employee may occasionally be required to exert up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally. 

Job Type

Full-time