Assistant Dean for Student Affairs - SMS-3861 (266)

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine•Springfield, IL

About The Position

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Springfield, provides leadership in career advising, student support, and coordination between Student Affairs and medical education. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, with a formal cross-appointment in the Department of Medical Education, this full-time position supports students’ academic progress, professional development, wellness, and readiness for residency. The position also contributes to general Student Affairs work, including preparation of Medical Student Performance Evaluations, student communications, and program evaluation. Using student data and emerging trends, the Assistant Dean collaborates with faculty and curricular leaders to identify student needs, coordinate support, and improve the student experience throughout medical school. The Assistant Dean oversees the day-to-day operation and continued development of the medical student career advising program. This includes coordinating a four-year advising curriculum, advising students, managing specialty-advisor coordination and development, supporting career-planning education, and evaluating advising quality and outcomes. The role also provides academic, career, and personal advising; supports students facing challenges; coordinates referrals; assists with residency applications and Match activities; and helps communicate Student Affairs policies and resources. It monitors student and program trends, develops reports and dashboards, evaluates survey feedback, and supports a centralized student management and advising platform. Through its cross-appointment with Medical Education, the role serves as a liaison and helps coordinate student support, curriculum planning, and residency preparation across offices.

Requirements

An MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree.
Experience in medical education, student affairs, academic or career advising, or a closely related field.
Knowledge of undergraduate medical education and the residency application and Match processes.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
Experience collaborating across departments or administrative units.
Ability to interpret student and program data and translate findings into action.
Commitment to student development, equity, confidentiality, and continuous program improvement.

Responsibilities

Oversee the day-to-day operation and continued development of the medical student career advising program.
Develop and maintain a coordinated four-year career advising curriculum.
Serve as a general career advisor to students during the early years of medical school.
Coordinate students’ transition to designated specialty-specific faculty advisors.
Recruit, orient, and support specialty advisors in collaboration with department chairs.
Lead monthly faculty-development sessions on residency application trends, Match outcomes, specialty competitiveness, and advising recommendations.
Develop and coordinate education on career planning, the residency application process, application strategies, the Match, and SOAP.
Monitor student participation, advising milestones, referrals, and follow-up needs.
Support students who require alternative academic or career plans.
Develop specialty-specific programs, workshops, and resources for students.
Evaluate the accessibility, consistency, quality, and outcomes of career advising.
Assist with preparation, review, and authorship of Medical Student Performance Evaluations.
Provide general academic, career, and personal advising to students.
Support students experiencing academic, professional, or personal challenges and coordinate referrals and follow-up with institutional resources.
Assist with residency applications, Match activities, and support for students who do not initially match.
Help develop and communicate Student Affairs policies, expectations, and resources.
Provide leadership and continuity when the Associate Dean is unavailable and assist with other Student Affairs responsibilities as needed.
Monitor trends in academic performance, career interests, student engagement, advising needs, wellness, and residency outcomes.
Identify emerging issues that may require institutional attention or intervention.
Develop dashboards and reports for program planning, accreditation, and leadership decision-making.
Evaluate student feedback from the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire and other institutional surveys.
Support implementation and effective use of a centralized student management and advising platform.
Improve continuity of student information from matriculation through graduation and reduce reliance on disconnected tracking systems.
Serve as a liaison between Student Affairs and the Office of Education and Curriculum.
Participate in curriculum planning when student performance, career development, wellness, or residency readiness is relevant.
Share appropriate aggregate data and trends to inform educational planning.
Help identify gaps between curricular experiences and residency preparation needs.
Coordinate academic support and career advising to provide students with consistent guidance.
Support educational programming related to career exploration, professional development, specialty selection, and transition to residency.
Promote shared planning and accountability across offices.