Vice Dean for Educational Affairs

Penn State College of Medicine seeks an innovative leader to set the future vision and direction for undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, and continuing medical education. The College of Medicine operates in collaboration with Penn State Health (a multi-hospital health system) and is recognized as one of the nation’s premier academic health centers, recruiting faculty members who are internationally known for their accomplishments in research, education, and patient care.  The College of Medicine and Penn State Health faculty and physicians continue to integrate the latest biomedical knowledge and technology with compassionate care of patients, while educating the next generation of clinicians, scientists, and public health professionals. 

A nationally recognized leader in both medical and inter-professional education, the College of Medicine has designed a curriculum to reinforce the enduring tenets of the practice of medicine and to address the broad and changing healthcare needs of society. The curriculum is learner-centered and has been developed to prepare students for work in a more integrated healthcare system.  The College of Medicine is based in Hershey, PA (approximately 140 students per year) and has deployed numerous innovative programs including: (1) a four-year regional campus in University Park, PA (12 students per year); (2) a state-of-the-art simulation center; (3) an extensive interprofessional education (IPE) program; (4) a new humanities curriculum building on our heritage as the first medical school with a humanities department; (5) novel accelerated programs of study; (6) a comprehensive patient navigation program; (7) dedicated longitudinal clinical experiences; and (8) a nationally recognized health systems science curriculum. The College of Medicine received full continuing accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in 2018; the next accreditation site visit will be in 2025-2026. 

The new Vice Dean for Educational Affairs is the Chief Education Officer of the College and reports directly to the Dean of the College of Medicine.  The Vice Dean for Educational Affairs oversees the offices of student affairs/admissions, undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, and academic affiliations. In addition, the Vice Dean provides oversight of continuing medical education, the office of global health, the physician assistant program, the clinical simulation center, the George T. Harrell Health Sciences Library, and the office of medical education research.

Strong candidates will be advocates for and display a commitment to education as demonstrated by a student-centered approach.  The individual will have a proven track record of articulating a vision for education and promoting innovation that is matched with experience developing new programs.   The person needs to have a demonstrated track record of successful administrative and people management experience within an academic medical center in a position such as Associate or Assistant Dean of Education, Department Chair, or Division Chief.  Finally, the person should be a dynamic, collaborative, charismatic, humanistic, entrepreneurial-driven, and inclusive leader who is results driven.

Screening will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made.  All communications will be treated confidentially.  Nominations, inquiries, and applications (including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names of five references) should be directed electronically (as a single PDF) in confidence to Patty Shipton, Physician Recruiter, at pshipton@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.  

Penn State Health is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is unapologetically expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences.  We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.