Physician Assistant Program Director
Charleston Southern University
Description
Charleston Southern University invites applications for the position of Program Director of the Master of Medical Science in PA Studies (MMSPAS) program. The Program Director serves as the academic and administrative officer of the PA program, providing vision, leadership, and oversight to ensure excellence in physician assistant education in alignment with CSU’s Christian mission and the standards of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
The Program Director is responsible for curriculum development, faculty and staff supervision, student performance and progression, budget management, clinical partnerships, and compliance with accreditation requirements. This individual represents the program within the university and to external partners, advancing CSU’s commitment to preparing graduates who are academically and clinically competent, professionally engaged, and dedicated to compassionate patient care.
Responsibilities
• Perform all duties of the Program Director as described in ARC-PA standards.
• Serve as an effective leader, manager, and administrator for the program.
• Set strategic priorities and manage program implementation in alignment with available budget and resources, including developing annual budgets.
• Oversee the hiring, supervision, mentoring, and evaluation of the program’s Medical Director, principal faculty, instructional faculty, and staff.
• Oversee faculty in curricular revisions, instructional delivery, and assessment to ensure compliance with ARC-PA Standards and CSU policies.
• Work with the Director of Didactic Education to develop and implement the didactic phase curriculum.
• Work with the university administrators and the Director of Clinical Education to recruit, develop, and monitor sufficient clinical rotation experiences and ensure appropriate site evaluation to ensure compliance with ARC-PA Standards and CSU policies.
• Coordinate faculty responsibilities across both didactic and clinical phases, including schedules, course directors, and assessments.
• Provide direct instruction in the didactic and/or clinical phases of the program.
• Oversee academic advising, support student success, and ensure remediation processes align with program and university policies.
• Guide and participate in student recruitment, admissions, selection, and retention initiatives.
• Lead ongoing program self-assessment, analysis, curriculum evaluation, and accreditation reporting.
• Nurture community relationships, network with local providers, and foster partnerships with regional healthcare systems.
• Use transparent communication and active listening strategies with administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
• Participate in program committees (Admissions, Curriculum, Academic & Professionalism Progress) and university committees (Graduate Council), and ad hoc committees, as needed.
• Represent the PA program at the university level and in state and national PA organizations.
• Collaborate on interprofessional and interdisciplinary initiatives within the College of Health Sciences.
• Attend regular leadership meetings within the College of Health Sciences, the university, and the community.
• Engage in professional development activities, including scholarship, clinical practice, or other agreed-upon activities.
• Ensure professional boundaries by not serving as a healthcare provider for students, except in emergencies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean of the College of Health Sciences.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Janet Tankersley jtankersley@csuniv.edu
