Assistant Course Director – Nervous System

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

28d•Onsite

About The Position

Assistant course directors are critical leaders in the education of medical students at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Broadly, the responsibilities of this role include development and implementation of curriculum and experiences that introduce medical students to the core knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to develop into a competent physician. Responsibilities include assisting the Course Director with course administration, curriculum execution, program innovation, curriculum review, and student support, as well as course faculty recruitment, support, and development. The Assistant Course Director will also serve as liaison between course faculty and the Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Outcomes for test development. Over the course of the year the time commitment of the Assistant Course Director is about 2 hours per week. However, the Assistant Course Director can expect that their work hours will be heavily weighed in the weeks prior to, during, and immediately after the course (~15- 20hrs/week). In the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Office within the University of Colorado School of Medicine, you will be part of a dynamic team committed to shaping the future of medical education. Our curriculum, known as “Trek,” launched in 2021 and represents a groundbreaking approach that emphasizes curiosity, life-long learning, and a deep commitment to serving both the medical profession and society. The Trek curriculum was developed through a collaborative effort of nearly 600 faculty, staff, and students and is designed to prepare future physicians to thrive in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Joining UME and more specifically the Office of Admissions means being at the forefront of medical education innovation, contributing to student success, and becoming part of a community dedicated to educating compassionate, skilled physicians. This is an exciting time to be a part of UME as we continue to evolve and enhance our programs to support the next generation of medical professionals.

Requirements

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
This is an open rank position and could be categorized as Instructor, Senior Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor based on experience and qualifications as indicated below:
Instructor: Candidates must hold a Master's degree or terminal degree such as an MD or DO degree from an accredited University.
Candidates must be able to obtain a faculty appointment as an Instructor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Sr. Instructor: Candidates must hold a Master's degree or terminal degree such as an MD or DO degree from an accredited University.
Candidates must be able to obtain a faculty appointment as a Sr. Instructor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Assistant Professor: Candidates must hold a terminal degree such as an MD or DO degree from an accredited University.
Candidates must be able to obtain a faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Associate Professor: Candidates must hold a terminal degree such as an MD or DO degree from an accredited University.
Candidates must be able to obtain a faculty appointment as an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Professor: Candidates must hold a terminal degree such as an MD or DO degree from an accredited University.
Candidates must be able to obtain a faculty appointment as a Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Integrity, civility, professionalism, and commitment to School of Medicine values.
Demonstration of effective collaboration and teamwork
Thoughtful understanding of the medical knowledge a student must possess in order to be a successful early clerkship student
Excellent written and oral communication.
Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to cultivate relationships with both university and community physicians and be available to answer questions and problem solve as needed
Ability to cultivate sustainable relationships with other faculty in the school of medicine and work to ensure the Pre-clerkship Curriculum is well represented within the school
Enjoy working with students, helping them with any learning issues, providing advice on how to troubleshoot/resolve issues, and assisting students to ensure their success

Nice To Haves

Available for preferred start date: July 1, 2026
Experience with healthcare professions, education, pedagogy, and assessment
Available to be present, as needed, for learning events throughout the course’s duration
Experience working effectively with blended teams.
Demonstrate an interest in medical student education.

Responsibilities

Course Planning and Preparation (Prior to Course Start)
Communicate and meet regularly with the Course Director to plan and prepare for the course.
Vet and revise course learning objectives with the Course Director and Content Directors.
Ensure the course schedule and granular information sheet are accurate.
Develop and create course content including session materials, pre-work, etc.
Recruit and develop faculty to deliver, facilitate, and/or present educational content.
Distribute accurate learning objectives to teaching faculty for each individual session.
Communicate with faculty to ensure deadlines are met.
Confirm that course materials submitted by faculty meet OME guidelines and align with course/session objectives; provide feedback as needed.
Work with OME and the curriculum office to coordinate facilitator and faculty development needs.
Ensure timely coordination with support staff while accounting for their competing responsibilities.
Serve as a resource and communicate proactively with administrative staff and faculty.
Assessment Development and Liaison Responsibilities Serve as liaison between course faculty and the Assessment Team for item writing and test development.
Review and approve all assessment items submitted by Assessment Point People (APPs) to ensure they meet established guidelines.
Ensure all assessment items include keys, learning objectives, and explanations; collect missing information from APPs as needed.
Participate in item review meetings and item selection for End-of-Week (EOW) checkpoints and End-of-Course (EOC) assessments.
Review and provide feedback on EOW and EOC assessment drafts.
Participate in standard setting for the EOC assessment.
Field questions from the Assessment Team on Thursday mornings or ensure assessments are finalized or delegated ahead of time.
Participate in key validation meetings for EOW and EOC assessments.
Course Execution (During Course) Provide ‘day-of’ course support and maintain a presence at all sessions or ensure appropriate faculty coverage.
Be prepared to assume temporary responsibility for course content, organization, and execution in the Course Director’s absence.
Ensure all faculty and students understand the course’s competencies and learning goals.
Serve as a resource and maintain timely communication with students, faculty, and staff.
Assist with Office Hours and respond to student inquiries.
Teach select content and facilitate learning events as needed.
Lead “just-in-time” faculty development sessions as required.
Develop and distribute review or clarification materials after sessions.
Communicate with faculty post-session for continuous quality improvement.
Track, monitor, and assess curriculum effectiveness; identify areas for improvement in alignment with curriculum oversight bodies.
Create and foster a professional learning environment.
Carry out additional responsibilities essential to course production as identified by the Course Director.
Collaborative Engagement and Continuous Improvement Attend and actively participate in collaborative meetings with Course Directors, Content Directors, and Assistant Course Directors.
Work collaboratively to improve and standardize curricular elements, develop policies, provide input, ensure LCME compliance, and share best practices.