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.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- 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 escalate material accreditation, academic, personnel, fiscal, or operational risks.
