Biomedical Sciences Faculty, Pharmacology

JOB TITLE: Biomedical Sciences Faculty, Pharmacology

SUPERVISOR: Chair, Biomedical Sciences

DEPARTMENT: Academic Affairs & Assessment 

FTE: 1.0

This job description provides a general outline of duties and qualifications and is not an exhaustive list. The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine reserves the right to modify responsibilities as institutional needs evolve. All faculty are expected to embrace flexibility, continuous improvement, and a commitment to serving our students, community, and institution.

Position Description

The biomedical sciences faculty at The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine (The Valley COM) plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of physicians by delivering high-quality instruction within the Biomedical Sciences department. Guided by our mission to develop technically proficient and compassionate osteopathic physicians who will serve rural and urban underserved communities, this faculty member integrates osteopathic principles, cultural humility, and innovative teaching strategies to prepare students for careers that transform healthcare across Arizona and beyond. Reporting directly to the Chair of Biomedical Sciences, this is a full-time position based in the Phoenix metropolitan area, with responsibilities spanning teaching, service, scholarly activity, and community engagement.

Teaching responsibilities will include developing and facilitating integrated discipline-specific instruction through non-lecture, case-based, active learning modalities. We seek collaborative, forward-thinking educators committed to student-centered learning and the development of an integrated biomedical sciences curriculum.

Specific/Key Responsibilities:

Mission Driven

·        Support the mission and goals of The Valley COM by understanding, demonstrating, and articulating the institution's mission, vision, and values.

·        Foster a culture of lifelong learning, critical thinking, professionalism, and ethical decision-making among medical students.

·        Embrace and model the core principles of osteopathic philosophy, the holistic approach of treating the whole person, emphasizing the unity of body, mind, and spirit.

·        Demonstrate cultural humility and awareness, actively working to reduce health inequities and address the unique needs of the BIPOC populations and other underserved communities.

·        Contribute to an organizational culture built on empathy, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

·        Model the principles and philosophy of osteopathic medicine by emphasizing ethical conduct, professionalism, commitment to service, whole-person care, prevention, compassion, and patient-centered practice.

Leadership and Advisory

·        Serve on institutional committees, contributing to academic governance and strategic planning.

·        Participate in task forces aimed at improving clinical education, research, and community engagement.

·        Lead interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate foundational sciences with clinical education and osteopathic principles.

·        Serve as an advisor or coordinator for relevant student organizations or projects.

·        Provide input on the development and refinement of institutional policies and procedures.

Curriculum Development and Instruction

·        Deliver high-quality instruction in pharmacology using evidence-based, student-centered teaching strategies that support the development of competent osteopathic physicians.

·        Develop and deliver learning materials (e.g., interactive modules, case-based scenarios) and assessment items in pharmacology within an integrated organ systems curriculum.

• Participate in ongoing course planning, refinement, and updates to ensure curriculum aligns with accreditation standards, evolving educational best practices, and institutional priorities.

·        Collaborate with colleagues in biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, OPP, and other relevant departments to ensure comprehensive, integrated student learning.

·        Integrate osteopathic principles and practices into classroom, lab, where applicable.

Evaluation and Assessment

·        Develop, administer, and analyze assessment tools (e.g., examinations and rubrics) that accurately measure student competency and align with course objectives, institutional learning outcomes, program competencies, and national licensing examination expectations. 

·        Provide timely, constructive feedback to students to support their professional growth.

·        Participate in course evaluations and use data-driven insights to guide curriculum improvements.

·        Monitor student performance and implement early intervention strategies where necessary.

Professional Development

·        Partake in both internal and external continuing education and professional development opportunities that enhance teaching skills, research methodologies, and support scholarly activities.

·        Attend relevant conferences, workshops, and institutional professional development sessions.

·        Stay current with emerging trends in medical education, healthcare delivery, and osteopathic medicine.

·        Pursue additional certifications, degrees, or formal training as appropriate to advance instructional quality.

Student Support Services and Mentorship

·        Serve as a faculty mentor to assigned students, guiding their academic and professional growth throughout their medical school journey.

·        Attend or contribute to new student orientation, the White Coat Ceremony, graduation and other key student milestones.

·        Provide academic advising, career counseling, and personal support to students as needed.

·        Identify students at academic risk and collaborate with academic support services to ensure timely interventions.

Collaboration

·        Partner with hospital and clinical partners to ensure continuity of instruction and relevance to real-world healthcare settings.

·        Collaborate with faculty across disciplines to coordinate instruction and reduce redundancies.

·        Engage in interprofessional education activities, fostering teamwork with other healthcare professionals.

·        Participate in community outreach initiatives aligned with institutional values.

Research and Innovation

·        Engage in scholarly activities that advance knowledge within the field.

·        Mentor students in research projects, encouraging early engagement with scholarship.

·        Seek extramural funding opportunities and contribute to grant proposals.

·        Present research findings at conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.

Accreditation, Quality, and Compliance

·        Ensure all instructional activities comply with COCA and other accrediting body standards.

·        Maintain thorough documentation and records for programmatic review.

·        Participate in quality improvement initiatives and continuous institutional assessment.

·        Support accreditation site visits and prepare relevant materials as needed.

Strategic Planning and development

·        Contribute insights and ideas to institutional strategic planning processes.

·        Support the integration of new programs, initiatives, or technologies that align with institutional goals.

·        Participate in setting departmental and institutional benchmarks for success.

·        Help establish and nurture partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, and other academic institutions.

General

• Fulfill all responsibilities outlined in the Faculty Handbook and adhere to institutional policies.
• Support administrative tasks and projects as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Workload Assignment:

Teaching                               60%

Service                                  20%

Research/Scholarship            20%

Qualifications:

• PhD, DO, MD, or equivalent doctorate degree required.
• Demonstrated commitment to osteopathic philosophy.
• Experience or formal training in medical education or curriculum development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary academic environment.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical education.
• Proficiency with digital learning platforms and educational technologies.

Non-Discrimination Statement:

It is the firm policy of THE VALLEY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE not to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, age or disabilities. It is a violation of The Valley COM policy to discriminate in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students; the provision of employment opportunities, benefits or privileges; to create discriminatory work conditions; or to use discriminatory evaluative standards in employment if the basis of that discriminatory treatment is, in whole or in part, on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, age or disabilities. Further, it is a violation of The Valley COM Policy to discriminate in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students if the basis of that discriminatory treatment is, in whole or in part, genetic information or marital status in its programs, activities, hiring, or the admission of students. Discrimination of this kind may also be strictly prohibited by a variety of federal, state and local laws.