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

About Sacred Heart University

As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U. S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Performing Arts; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R. N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and, at the same time, cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio; a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre.

Job Title

Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor

Department

Department of Physician Associate Studies

Reports To

Chair, Department of Physician Associate Studies

Anticipated Start Date

June 2026

Contract Length

12 months

About the College of Health Professions

The College of Health Professions (CHP) at Sacred Heart University prepares students for meaningful careers in today’s dynamic healthcare environment through inclusive, collaborative, and experiential learning. With state-of-the-art facilities and a strong emphasis on interprofessional education, CHP offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the clinical and health sciences. Students gain hands-on experience through advanced simulation, clinical placements, and global service-learning. Guided by the University's mission, the College fosters excellence, compassion, and a commitment to social justice, community, and the common good.

Position Summary

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

Program Leadership & Administration

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 (8–10 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/resumé
• 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 cliness@sacredheart.edu.

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.