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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Penn State College of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, in Hershey, PA, is seeking an Academic Program Specialist. The Academic Program Specialist for the Office of Medical Education plays a pivotal role in overseeing the operations of the clinical curriculum within the MD Program at the College of Medicine. This position is integral to supporting students engaged in clinical experiences both on-site and at affiliated partner locations. The role ensures the successful implementation of programs that contribute to student development, accreditation standards, and educational excellence, particularly in accelerated pathways, longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs), and clinical electives.

The Academic Program Specialist is responsible for organizing curricular materials and activities, orienting practice sites and preceptors to student learning objectives, and supporting program evaluation and assessment. As part of the clinical curriculum design team, this individual fosters strong relationships with medical educators, clinical faculty, and LIC sites, while applying innovative solutions to enhance program delivery. The role requires independent judgment, effective communication across Penn State Health and College of Medicine systems, and a deep understanding of medical education processes and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with clinical faculty and key stakeholders to implement curriculum updates, teaching modalities, and competency-based objectives.
• Partner with the Director of Phase 3 UME-GME Transition to oversee Core Acting Internships, including:
  • Mentoring Acting Internship Coordinators.
  • Managing and evaluating the Phase 3 curriculum.
• Manage the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (LIC):
  • Organize the LIC Meet & Greet recruitment event for prospective students.
  • Oversee the LIC application process, including dissemination, collection, marketing, and interview coordination.
  • Compile and distribute relevant documents to the LIC selection committee, conduct individual applicant meetings, and participate in the selection process.
• Oversee Accelerated Pathways:
  • Lead and train 3+ pathway coordinators through regular meetings.
  • Collaborate with the Assistant Dean for Pathway Innovation on program development and design.
  • Assist in student advising sessions alongside the Assistant Dean for Pathway Innovation.
• Plan and coordinate the Transition to Clerkships and Transition to Internship courses, ensuring effective simulation sessions and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) for student preparation.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of the Clinical Education Partnership Retreat