Des Moines University logo
Des Moines University
Des Moines, Iowa

Physician Assistant Behavioral Medicine (.8 FTE)

Physician AssistantFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 7mo ago

Job Description

Join a collaborative academic behavioral health team dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered psychiatric care. In this role, you will provide evidence-based mental health services to adult patients within an academic clinic environment, working under the supervision of a board-certified psychiatrist.

The position includes conducting comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, managing medications, and facilitating group medical visits while contributing to an integrated care model.

You will also play an important role in the educational mission of the clinic by supporting the training and mentorship of health professions students, helping shape the next generation of clinicians while delivering compassionate, effective care.

What You’ll Do

  • Provide direct psychiatric patient care by conducting comprehensive evaluations, ongoing diagnostic assessments, and medication management for adult patients, while developing individualized treatment plans in collaboration with a supervising psychiatrist and interdisciplinary care team.
  • Support the academic mission of the clinic by serving as a clinical preceptor for PA students, medical students, and other learners, offering case review, supervision, and occasional participation in lectures or clinical teaching activities.
  • Contribute to a high-performing clinical environment through accurate and compliant documentation, interprofessional collaboration, participation in quality improvement initiatives, and completion of all required university and clinical training.

What We Are Looking For

  • At least three years of clinical experience as a PA and at least one year in behavioral health.
  • Current certification/licensure as a physician assistant within the State of Iowa.
  • Current DEA and CSA certification or ability to attain.
  • Current BLS certification and Mandatory Reporter certification or ability to attain within one month of hire.
  • Additional postgraduate training in psychiatry or behavioral medicine preferred (e. g., fellowship, residency-style program, formal internship, or structured advanced clinical training).
  • CAQ in Psychiatry preferred.

*To see the full job description go to Position Description at the bottom of this posting.

Total Rewards

Our employees are what make DMU special, so we treat them well! Our Total Rewards reflect this commitment. Qualified faculty and staff enjoy a generous employer contribution towards the medical plan, 10% retirement match, flexible work arrangements, community service time, tuition assistance, professional development funding, and access to wellness facilities with programs that promote a well-balanced lifestyle. Visit dmu.edu to learn more

about our benefits.

DMU is proud to offer employees generous benefits and perks, paid time off, free use of wellness facilities, and a host of employee engagement and recognition programs throughout the year.

About

Founded in 1898, Des Moines University is a premier medical and health sciences institution comprising three colleges– College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, and College of Health Sciences – offering ten graduate degree programs.

Our mission is to improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals.

It is an exciting time to join DMU. In 2023, we relocated our primary academic and operational offices to a new 88-acre campus in West Des Moines, Iowa, while maintaining an active clinic on our former campus. This state-of-the-art campus includes technology-rich, flexible education spaces that support innovative teaching methods and connect faculty and students across all of our programs.

Our new research facilities include a vibrant and spacious open laboratory, designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

DMU enhances our community’s quality of life by educating outstanding health professionals and leaders; providing expert, compassionate patient care; serving the community in diverse ways; and stimulating the central Iowa community.

At DMU you will make a meaningful contribution to the dynamic future of Medicine and Health Sciences by supporting a diverse community of faculty and staff with programs and services across the employee lifecycle.

Required Documents

Resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references required at time of online submission. Apply at dmu.edu.

Department: Behavioral Health

Status: Exempt

Position Description

Key Responsibilities

The Physician Assistant will provide direct psychiatric patient care, including comprehensive evaluations, ongoing diagnostic assessments, and medication management for adult patients, developing individualized treatment plans in collaboration with a supervising psychiatrist and the care team. Additionally, the role supports the academic mission by serving as a clinical preceptor for students, offering supervision and teaching activities.

Requirements

Candidates must possess at least three years of clinical experience as a PA, with a minimum of one year specifically in behavioral health, and hold current certification/licensure as a Physician Assistant in the State of Iowa. Desired qualifications include additional postgraduate training in psychiatry or behavioral medicine and CAQ in Psychiatry.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA LicenseBoard Certification

Key Skills

Psychiatric EvaluationEvidence-Based PracticeInterdisciplinary CollaborationDiagnostic AssessmentTreatment PlanningDocumentation Compliance

Psychiatry — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active Physician Assistant listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 70% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physician Assistant market look like in Iowa?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedPhysician Assistant median $126k (middle half $110k–$155k)36 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost of livingIowa index 87.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physician Assistant listings in Iowa53 active4,639 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 8% remote · 70% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

31 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

28 jobs · 23 employers
7
<$145k
3
$145k-165k
12
$165k-185k
5
$185k-205k
1
$212k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

26 jobs · 23 employers
CME allowance
73%
401k / retirement match
73% this job
Sign-on bonus
46%
Loan repayment
8%
Relocation assistance
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physician Assistant- Dr. Fealy

Hospital for Special Surgery · New York, New York

$195k-$212k
#2

Urgent Care Advanced Practice Clinician (PA-C or ARNP)

Evergreen Emergency Services · Snohomish, Washington

$92-$96/hr
#3

Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP)

$95/hr
#4

Physician Assistant FLOAT

$165k-$190k
+ 29 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 7.2this job 3.0
Better work-life than 10% of Psychiatry (PA) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 65 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Des Moines University logo

About Des Moines University

Benefits & Perks

Generous employer contribution towards medical plan
10% retirement match
Flexible work arrangements
Community service time
Tuition assistance
Professional development funding
Access to wellness facilities
Paid time off

Living in Des Moines

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$227k
Typical market rent
$1,126/mo
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.7
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.