AA - Assistant Program Director of Academic Affairs - MHSA

Burrell College of Health Sciences•Melbourne, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Program Director of Academic Affairs (APD-AA) of the Master of Health Science in Anesthesia (MHSA) program at Burrell College of Health Sciences serves as the second-in-command to the Program Director and carries primary responsibility for academic integrity, curriculum coordination, faculty development, and continuous quality improvement of the didactic components of the program. This is a 0.6 FTE appointment with a faculty designation, reporting directly to the Program Director. The APD-AA works in close collaboration with the Program Director to ensure that the MHSA curriculum is well-designed, consistently delivered, regularly assessed, and continuously improved in alignment with CAAHEP accreditation standards and the program’s stated competencies and learning outcomes. Within the scope of this role, the APD-AA exercises coordinating and advisory authority over curriculum and faculty academic performance, with formal supervisory authority retained by the Program Director. The remaining 0.4 FTE is available for the individual’s independent professional use. The College expects that when the APD-AA engages in clinical anesthesia practice during this time, they do so in a preceptor capacity, actively supervising MHSA students in the operating room or approved clinical setting. This expectation reflects the program’s commitment to integrating real-world clinical mentorship into the student experience and maintain the APD-AA’s currency as a practicing Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant. This position is Exempt.

Requirements

Graduate of a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program.
Current and active certification as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) in good standing with the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).
Current and unencumbered Florida state licensure as an Anesthesiologist Assistant, or eligibility to obtain Florida licensure prior to the start date.
Master’s degree from a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program required at the time of appointment.
Eligibility for faculty appointment in accordance with Burrell College of Health Sciences policy; final rank will be determined based on credentials, experience, and institutional appointment criteria.
Minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience as a practicing Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant.
Demonstrated experience in academic program coordination, curriculum development, or a related administrative role within a health professions graduate program.
Demonstrated experience or familiarity with CAAHEP accreditation standards and processes.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate instructional effectiveness and contribute to program quality improvement.
Strong organizational and coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple curriculum and faculty related responsibilities simultaneously in a developing program environment.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to interact constructively with students, faculty, clinical partners, and institutional leadership.
Demonstrated ability to collect, interpret, and apply academic performance and assessment data to support curriculum improvement and accreditation compliance.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and take initiative in coordinating curriculum and faculty activities within the scope of the role.
Commitment to evidence-based, student-centered instruction and to the professional development of Anesthesiologist Assistant students as competent entry-level anesthesia providers.
Proficiency with standard office productivity tools, learning management systems, and educational technology platforms.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree (EdD, PhD, DMSc, DHSc, or equivalent relevant to health professions education or an allied field) is preferred but not required.
Prior faculty or administrative experience in an AA or allied health graduate program, including experience as a course director, didactic coordinator, or program administrator.
Experience with learning management systems, curriculum mapping tools, or academic assessment platforms.
Record of scholarly activity, professional development, or service to the AA profession or health professions education community.
Experience as a clinical preceptor for AA students in the operating room setting.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary coordinator of the MHSA didactic curriculum, working with the Program Director to ensure appropriate content coverage, sequencing, integration, and alignment with CAAHEP standards and program competencies.
Maintain and update the program curriculum map to reflect current accreditation standards, program defined learning outcomes, and national CAA certification content blueprints.
Review, approve, and revise course syllabi in accordance with program policy, ensuring that all syllabi contain required elements, measurable objectives, and alignment with program competencies.
Oversee and coordinate the foundational science blocks of the didactic curriculum, ensuring content currency and pedagogical effectiveness.
Evaluate and recommend instructional resources, including textbooks, learning management system content, and supplemental materials, for use across the curriculum.
Compile, organize, and maintain course materials including handouts, examinations, presentations, and other instructional instruments in accordance with program and accreditation record-keeping requirements.
Recommend changes to curriculum content, course structure, or program requirements to the Program Director and appropriate program committees as needed.
Coordinate faculty deployment across the didactic curriculum in collaboration with the Program Director, ensuring appropriate expertise alignment and workload distribution.
Participate in the review and evaluation of faculty academic performance, including course evaluations, peer observation, and student feedback related to instruction quality, and communicate findings and recommendations to the Program Director.
Support the onboarding and orientation of new instructional faculty, including adjunct and part-time instructors, program policies, curriculum standards, and accreditation expectations.
Facilitate faculty development activities focused on evidence-based teaching practices, assessment design, use of simulation, and technology-enhanced instruction.
Participate in faculty meetings and serve as a collaborative resource for instructional faculty in resolving curriculum delivery challenges.
Lead and coordinate the ongoing assessment of the didactic curriculum, including systematic collection and analysis of course performance data, examination results, student learning outcome achievement, and course and instructor evaluation results.
Use assessment data to identify curriculum gaps, instructional effectiveness, concerns, and opportunities for improvement, and develop recommendations for the Program Director and Curriculum Committee.
Support the program’s continuous quality improvement initiatives by maintaining assessment records, tracking action plan implementation, and contributing to program effectiveness reporting.
Assist the Program Director in preparing accreditation documentation related to curriculum, faculty credentials, and academic quality for CAAHEP and ARC-AA reporting purposes.
Prepare and submit reports on curriculum and academic program activities as directed by the Program Director.
Maintain accurate and current records of faculty rosters, course assignments, syllabi, and curriculum related documentation in compliance with program and accreditation requirements.
Communicate regularly with instructional faculty, program staff, and institutional offices to support the smooth delivery of the academic program.
Participate in program strategic planning initiatives, particularly those related to curriculum development, academic quality, and faculty capacity.
In the absence or at the direction of the Program Director, assume delegated programmatic responsibilities appropriate to the APD-AA role.
Teach within the MHSA didactic curriculum in areas of content expertise as assigned by the Program Director, consistent with the faculty appointment and accreditation standards.
Advise students on academic matters, course progression, and learning strategies as needed.
Review and act on student feedback pertaining to courses and instructional faculty, in coordination with the Program Director.
Serve on the Student Progress and Promotions Committee and contribute to decisions regarding student remediation, academic progression, and corrective action.
Participate in student admissions activities, including application review and candidate interviews, and provide recommendations to the Program Director.
When engaged in clinical anesthesia practice in the remaining 0.4 FTE, supervise MHSA students in the operating room or approved clinical setting in a formal preceptor capacity, contributing to the clinical education hours and competency development of enrolled students.
Participate in program faculty meetings, faculty development workshops, program committees, and institutional service activities appropriate to the faculty appointment.
Represent the MHSA program at institutional events and, where appropriate, at regional or national AA education and professional organization meetings.
Participate in student-facing events including orientation, White Coat Ceremony, and commencement as program needs require.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Director.