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Founding Director, Physician Assistant Program
Sam Houston State University (SHSU), in
partnership with the national search firm, Scott Healy &
Associates , invites applications and nominations for the position of Founding Director for the
proposed* Physician Assistant Program. Sam Houston State University seeks an innovative and dynamic leader to serve in this
full-time appointment within the College of Health Sciences (COHS). This is a full-time, tenure-eligible, 12-month position that reports
directly to the Dean of the COHS. Salary is commensurate with professional experience and academic preparation.
*Subject to approval
by applicable governing and accrediting agencies
The proposed Physician Assistant Program will be housed in Conroe, Texas on
SHSU’s Medical and Health Professions Campus, and will matriculate students in Fall 2026. In 2021, SHSU received tuition revenue bond
funding to build an 80,000 square foot Health Professions Building. The new building, estimated to open in December 2025, will house four
academic programs including the MS in Athletic Training, MS in Dietetics, MS in Physician Assistant (proposed), and Doctor of Physical
Therapy (proposed). Conroe, Texas is in Montgomery County about 40 miles north of Houston, the 4th largest city and most diverse
city in the U.S. The Houston Medical Center, located near downtown
Houston, is the world’s largest medical complex. The SHSU Medical and Health Professions campus is approximately 10 miles north of the
“Medical Center of the north.”
Responsibilities:
- Curriculum development;
- Strategic planning and partnerships;
- Fiscal management of personnel and faculty/staff resources;
- Collaboration and
innovation for interprofessional education (IPE); - Application for initial accreditation that meets all standards of Accreditation
Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA); - Ongoing maintenance of accreditation;
- Recruitment for
the program; - Leading and administering the program;
- Continually evaluating and advancing the goals of the program;
and - Other duties as assigned by the Dean of the COHS.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program; doctorate degree preferred.
- Must be a
certified Physician Assistant. - Three years of full-time higher education experience at the time of appointment.
- Outstanding organizational skills, communication, time management skills, and self-motivation.
- Licensure as a Physician
Assistant in the State of Texas, or eligible to obtain licensure. - Previous teaching experience in higher education.
- Previous experience with ARC-PA.
- Previous leadership/administrative experience.
About Sam Houston
State University:
For more than 140 years, as a member of the Texas State University System, SHSU has been preparing
students for meaningful lives of achievement. Its motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service,” resonates among its
approximately 21,612 students, eight colleges and well beyond its Huntsville roots. Sam Houston State offers top-ranked degree programs, and
graduates are not only well-prepared to think and respond to the workforce needs of a rapidly changing world, but also stand ready to serve
their community.
SHSU offers an extensive range of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as doctorates in selected
areas. The faculty and the University are recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally. The mission of SHSU is to provide high
quality education, scholarship, and service to students and to regional, state, national, and international constituencies.
About the College of Health Sciences:
The College of Health Sciences began operations in 2013 and is comprised of
four academic units including the Departments of Human Sciences, Kinesiology, and Public Health, and the School of Nursing. COHS serves
almost 3,000 students across thirteen undergraduate programs and six graduate programs. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, serving and
meeting the needs of all our students is central to our mission. In addition, almost 50% of our students identify as first-generation
college students. Faculty and students across several of our COHS academic programs, in partnership with the SHSU College of Osteopathic
Medicine, engage in a variety of Interprofessional Education (IPE) activities each academic year.
About Conroe,
Texas:
Conroe is the fastest-growing city in Texas, and boasts an abundance of exciting offerings. Conroe is bordered
by 22,000-acre Lake Conroe, Sam Houston National Forest, and W. Goodrich Jones State Forest, making for a veritable utopia for the outdoor
lover. Conroe is also located just north of The Woodlands, a dynamic community located within a natural forest and home to approximately
120,000 residents. Conroe Independent School District, which serves both Conroe and The Woodlands, is home to top-ranked schools. The
Woodlands offers intellectual stimulation through cultural institutions like the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, which hosts world-class
performances. Both Conroe and The Woodlands are located in Montgomery County, which is one of the fastest growing areas in the United
States. Conroe’s close proximity to metropolitan experiences, outdoor activities, shopping, and sports make it uniquely positioned to
offer a variety of opportunities for its residents. Conroe’s close proximity to the Houston-Galveston metroplex also provides a large
number of activities and multicultural partnership opportunities not found in many other areas.
Learn more about all that Conroe and The Woodlands has to offer.
Application and Nomination Process:
All
correspondence relating to the position of Founding Director, Physician Assistant Program at Sam Houston State
University should be directed in confidence to the University’s executive search consultant:
Christopher
Healy, President
Scott Healy & Associates
A complete application should include the following:
1. Cover
Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
2. Updated CV;
3. Three (3) professional references with
contact information, title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without
written permission from the candidate.)
Applications received by October 31, 2023 will receive priority
consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment
without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability
status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression. Sam Houston State University is an “at will” employer. Employees
with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with
Education Code § 51.215.
