Director of Clinical Education/Principal Faculty - Physician Associate Program

Southwestern College invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE, tenure-track, Director of Clinical Education (DCE)/Principal Faculty position in its developing Physician Associate Program.

The Director of Clinical Education is a member of the program’s principal faculty and provides leadership, oversight, coordination, and evaluation of the clinical phase of the Physician Associate curriculum. Working collaboratively with the Program Director, faculty, staff, clinical preceptors, and healthcare partners, the DCE is responsible for ensuring high-quality supervised clinical practice experiences that support student achievement of program-defined learning outcomes and competencies.

This position will play a key role in expanding and strengthening the program’s clinical education network throughout Kansas and the surrounding region, with particular emphasis on developing sustainable relationships with clinical preceptors, healthcare organizations, and community partners. The successful candidate will combine strong organizational and administrative skills with a collaborative, relationship-centered approach to clinical education and a commitment to preparing physician associates to serve rural and medically underserved communities.

Primary Responsibilities

Clinical Education Leadership

• Provide overall leadership, administration, coordination, and evaluation of the clinical phase of the Physician Associate Program.
• Develop, maintain, and evaluate clinical sites and preceptors to ensure sufficient and appropriate supervised clinical practice experiences for all students.
• Coordinate student clinical placements and rotation schedules in collaboration with program faculty and staff.
• Ensure clinical sites and preceptors provide experiences that enable students to achieve program-defined learning outcomes, competencies, and required clinical experiences.
• Oversee initial and ongoing evaluation of clinical sites and preceptors, including assessment of clinical learning opportunities, patient populations, supervision, student performance, and opportunities to achieve required clinical and technical skills.
• Develop and sustain collaborative relationships with clinical preceptors, healthcare organizations, and community partners while actively identifying opportunities to expand the program’s clinical education network.
• Orient and support clinical preceptors regarding program expectations, learning outcomes, student assessment, clinical policies, and preceptor responsibilities.
• Monitor student performance and progression throughout the clinical phase, including academic, clinical, and professional performance.
• Oversee clinical-phase assessment processes, including preceptor evaluations, end-of-rotation assessments, achievement of required clinical and technical skill benchmarks, and final summative assessment.
• Identify concerns related to student performance or clinical learning experiences and collaborate with faculty, preceptors, and students to develop appropriate interventions.
• Participate in the development, review, and revision of clinical syllabi, learning outcomes, instructional objectives, assessment methods, policies, and procedures.
• Maintain clinical education records and documentation necessary for program evaluation, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement.

Principal Faculty Responsibilities

• Participate in the development, review, and revision of the program’s mission, goals, competencies, and learning outcomes.
• Participate in the selection and evaluation of applicants for admission to the Physician Associate Program.
• Provide student instruction within the didactic and/or clinical curriculum consistent with areas of expertise and program needs.
• Participate in the evaluation of student academic, clinical, and professional performance.
• Provide academic advising and counseling to students.
• Identify student learning deficiencies and participate in assuring the availability and implementation of appropriate remedial instruction.
• Participate in the design, implementation, coordination, evaluation, and ongoing revision of the Physician Associate curriculum.
• Participate in ongoing program evaluation, assessment, and continuous quality improvement.
• Participate in accreditation activities and preparation of required program documentation.
• Participate in faculty meetings, committees, student progression activities, and other service responsibilities of the program and college.
• Engage in professional development and scholarly activity consistent with institutional expectations and the faculty role.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an ARC-PA accredited Physician Assistant/Associate program.
• Current NCCPA certification and eligibility for Kansas licensure.
• Minimum 3 years of full-time clinical experience.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, faculty, clinical preceptors, healthcare organizations, and community partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain accurate records and documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher preferred (strong clinical experience considered).
• Previous experience in physician associate education, clinical education, or coordination of supervised clinical practice experiences.
• Experience serving as a clinical preceptor.
• Experience with curriculum development, student assessment, academic advising, and remediation.
• Familiarity with ARC-PA accreditation standards and processes.
• Experience developing or maintaining clinical partnerships and preceptor networks.
• Clinical experience in rural or medically underserved communities.
• Experience with program evaluation and continuous quality improvement.

About Southwestern College

Located in Winfield, Kansas, Southwestern College is launching the PA program as part of its bold strategic plan, SC 2028: Building Our Future, focused on:

• Preparing students to lead and serve their communities.
• Strengthening healthcare and education partnerships across Kansas and beyond.
• Ensuring institutional vitality through innovation and strategic growth.
• At Southwestern, you’ll find a vibrant academic community committed to excellence, collaboration, and student success — a place where you can make a lasting difference in healthcare education.

To apply, submit a letter of application, detailed resume and complete contact information for three (3) professional references to: Human Resources, 100 College St., Winfield, KS, 67156 or email HumanResources@sckans.edu (submissions may be either electronic or on paper). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. The successful candidate will be subject to a criminal background check. Southwestern College is an AA/EOE employer.