Associate Dean

Summary

The Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs provides direction and leadership for all clinical faculty, staff, and students in the Eye Institute to ensure quality student education and patient care. This position supervises and coordinates clinical operations in accordance with Midwestern University policies and procedures.

The Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs demonstrates the professional skills and behaviors to promote comprehensive, cost-effective, and patient-focused care. The position provides leadership related to daily operations of the Eye Institute. The position is responsible for oversight of the clinical and education components of health care delivery, including clinical protocols and quality improvement that meet applicable laws governing licensure and certification.

Administrative Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinic Administration

Develop and implement systems and standard operating procedures to ensure safety protocols and compliance with relevant regulations, enhance quality of patient care, and improve efficiencies of clinic operations. Review and revise policies and procedures through the Midwestern University policy governance structure.

Enforce clinic policies and procedures as included in the Eye Institute Clinic Manual, External Rotation Manual, and University Policies and Procedures.

Direct the annual update of the Eye Institute Manual, secure faculty approval, and then post the Manual on the Eye Institute website by May 1.

Develop and implement an effective committee structure to meet accreditation standards and ensure best practices in patient care. Ensure that committees are meeting and that minutes of meeting are centrally stored.

Ensure all clinic personnel files, including annual privileging, are up to date.

Coordinate the direct the activities of the Director of Clinic Operations, Clinic Manager, Clinic Care Leads, and Assistant Director of Clinic Rotations.

Coordinate the services of and serve as the chief liaison to various University support services, including Clinic Financial Services, Marketing, Information Technology, Campus Security, and Campus Facilities to best meet the needs of the Eye Institute.

Collaborate with Marketing to enhance promotion of the Eye Institute's services to increase patient volume.

Develop effective working relationships with the Medical Director of the Multispecialty Clinic, Clinic Coordinator for the Physical Therapy Institute, Clinic Coordinator for the Speech Therapy Institute, Associate Dean of the Dental Institute, and the Vice President of Clinic Operations to identify potential synergies to best meet the needs of the clinics and the patients. Develop effective working relationships with the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs of the Midwestern University Eye Institute Glendale for continuity between the programs.

Address patient and provider concerns and grievances in accordance with Midwestern University policies and procedures.

Review monthly Press Ganey reports and develop and implement plans to improve score results and address patient experience concerns.

Ensure adequate quality improvement activities are completed, including, but not limited to, chart reviews, quarterly Quality Assurance reports, MIPs monitoring and reporting, and risk management rounds. Ensure performance deficiencies are addressed with oversight of corrective action plans and continuous quality improvement.

Collaborate with the Dean of the Chicago College of Optometry to develop new or expand existing services in the Eye Identify additional personnel, capital, or space resources to support such requests.

Responsible for budgetary management of the Eye Institute.

Promote opportunities in the clinic for research and scholarly activity.

Develop proficiency in clinical management using EpicÒ electronic health record software.

Participate in all University and College appointed committees and ad hoc committees as needed.

Other duties as assigned

College Administration

Assist the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the preparation of progress reports, faculty workloads, responses to accrediting agencies, or self-studies.

Establish and recommend faculty and staff hiring

Conduct annual performance reviews for faculty in conjunction with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Conduct performance reviews of staff reports.

Other duties as assigned

Academic Administration & Faculty Responsibilities

Didactic Coursework

Provide recommendations and coordinate on curricular revisions to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs to ensure optimal preparation of students for OD-3 or OD-4 rotations.

Coordinate with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs to develop faculty workloads to ensure assignments are equitable and meet the needs of the College.

Clinical Education

Foster inter-professional education opportunities for students on rotation in the Eye Institute or at affiliated clinic sites.

Supervise and provide oversight to the Assistant Director, Clinical Rotations regarding the clinical education program at the Chicago College of Optometry.

Ensure that the External Rotation Manual is updated and uploaded to RMS by June

Provide oversight of the development and monitoring of the externship and community outreach programs of the College, in collaboration with the

Assistant Director, Clinical Rotations. This includes setting minimum requirements for preceptors and externship sites, evaluation and development of preceptors, and ensuring that executed agreements are established between the college and all externship sites.

In collaboration with the Dean, plan and develop, the residency programs hosted and/or affiliated with the Chicago College of Optometry.

Faculty responsibilities:

Provide didactic instruction, as determined by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

Provide clinical instruction in the Eye Institute.

Fulfill committee service responsibilities, as assigned.

Participate in scholarly activity to meet requirements for promotion in academic rank.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position directly supervises the Director of Clinic Operations, Clinic Care Leads, and Assistant Director of Clinical Rotations. Provide ongoing support, mentorship, and performance evaluations to ensure high standards of patient care and service delivery for clinical faculty and staff.

Education and/or Experience

An Optometrist who is duly qualified and licensed to practice Optometry in Illinois.
A minimum of 5 years serving as a full-time faculty member within a College of Optometry.
A preference for an Optometrist with prior experience and/or training related to administrative functions or leadership.
An Optometrist committed to leading a team aligned with the Mission and Vision of Midwestern University, the Chicago College of Optometry, and the Midwestern University Clinics.

Contact information: Interested applicants should apply online at and include a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest. Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Brianne Hobbs, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dean and Professor, Chicago College of Optometry, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515; e-mail: View email address on click.appcast.io

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois, and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech-language pathology, biomedical sciences, and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long-term disability, and pet insurance. We offer flexible spending accounts, including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care accounts. We offer a work-life balance with a competitive time off package including paid holidays, sick/flex days, personal days, and vacation days. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection, and an employee assistance program. Wellness is important to us, and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility.

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/). Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.

Education and/or Experience

An Optometrist who is duly qualified and licensed to practice Optometry in Illinois.
A minimum of 5 years serving as a full-time faculty member within a College of Optometry.
A preference for an Optometrist with prior experience and/or training related to administrative functions or leadership.
An Optometrist committed to leading a team aligned with the Mission and Vision of Midwestern University, the Chicago College of Optometry, and the Midwestern University Clinics.