CHC - Founding Department Chair and Program Director, Physical Therapy

CHC - Founding Department Chair and Program Director, Physical Therapy Job Type

Full-time

The Founding Department Chair and Program Director provides full-time academic and administrative leadership for the development, CAPTE candidacy, launch, and ongoing operation of ATSU-CHC's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in San Luis Obispo, California. The position serves as the CAPTE-recognized program director and is accountable for accreditation compliance, academic quality, curriculum and assessment, faculty and staff leadership, fiscal and resource management, student outcomes, and strategic development of the department.

• Lead all phases of DPT program development, CAPTE candidacy, initial accreditation, and continuing compliance; direct preparation of the Application for Candidacy, self-study and required reports, and readiness for accreditation reviews and site visits.
• Establish and maintain the program's mission, goals, curriculum, assessment plan, academic policies, outcome measures, and continuous-improvement processes in alignment with ATSU requirements and CAPTE Standards and Required Elements.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate faculty and staff; lead phased recruitment of the Director of Clinical Education (DCE), core faculty, associated faculty, and administrative support needed for candidacy and program implementation.
• Provide leadership for curriculum design and delivery, including the planned accelerated approximately 30-month curriculum, interprofessional education, evidence-based practice, health promotion, community health, and Lifestyle Medicine-related curricular development as approved.
• Develop and manage the department budget and long-range resource plan, including personnel, instructional space, laboratories, equipment, technology, professional development, and other resources required for program quality and accreditation.
• Oversee admissions and enrollment strategy, student progression, retention, academic performance, professional development, and program outcomes in collaboration with Admissions, Student Affairs, the Registrar, and other University offices.
• In partnership with the DCE, ensure development and maintenance of sufficient, high-quality clinical education partnerships, affiliation agreements, clinical placement capacity, and processes for monitoring clinical education quality and compliance.
• Build and sustain relationships with regional healthcare organizations, academic partners, feeder institutions, professional organizations, and community stakeholders to support workforce development, student recruitment, clinical education, interprofessional education, and community engagement.
• Participate in teaching, scholarship, service, and institutional governance consistent with faculty rank and assigned workload; maintain contemporary expertise in physical therapist education and/or practice.
• Represent the department and program with CAPTE, University leadership and governance, institutional and state regulatory bodies, professional organizations, and external partners; promptly identify and elevate material accreditation, academic, personnel, fiscal, or operational risks.

• Professional physical therapist education plus an earned academic doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, ScD, or equivalent). A professional DPT degree alone does not satisfy CAPTE's academic doctoral degree requirement for a DPT Program Director.
• Required knowledge:
  Physical therapist professional education; CAPTE Standards and Required Elements and accreditation processes; curriculum design, teaching and student assessment; program assessment and continuous improvement; faculty governance and development; higher education…