COMPASS Support Guide

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The mission of the COMPASS Program is to guide medical students through their transformation into physicians, deepen their understanding of how physicians engage with the world, and support their journey toward reaching their full potential. Within the Trek curriculum, students receive longitudinal faculty guidance throughout their four (or more) years of medical school. COMPASS Support Guide play a critical role in ensuring that this longitudinal support remains consistent and uninterrupted. They provide both planned and as-needed coverage within the COMPASS Guide educator-on-call backup system, stepping in when a full-time COMPASS Guide is on leave or departs the program. During these periods, Support Guides assume responsibility for the affected students, ensuring continuity of coaching, academic guidance, and faculty support. In addition to providing coverage, COMPASS Support Guide serve as educators within the Trek curriculum. Regular responsibilities include teaching 2–3 Wednesday afternoons per month and participating in one faculty development session per month on Wednesday mornings. Through these activities, Support Guides help students develop skills in self-reflection, professional identity formation, effective use of feedback, self-directed learning, and a growth mindset. The position requires approximately 36 half-days of employment per year. Scheduled responsibilities will be communicated to the COMPASS Support Guide and their clinic at least 60 days in advance, and always on Wednesdays. When covering students for a Guide who is on leave, urgent academic concerns may occasionally require limited evening or weekend availability to ensure students receive timely support, and support community building events. COMPASS Support Guides join a vibrant community of clinician-educators representing diverse specialties, backgrounds, and clinical sites. The role is particularly well suited for faculty who value medical education, coaching, mentorship, and supporting students throughout their professional development.

Requirements

Applicants must be able to obtain a faculty appointment (open rank) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Applicants must be a board-certified physician with an MD or DO from an accredited University.
Applicants must have permission from their clinic or department to assume the role.
Ability to communicate and collaborate with students, faculty, and leadership team members.
Organizational skills and attention to detail are important.
The individual in this position needs to be a person who can cultivate relationships with both university and community physicians, as well as students, and be available to answer questions and problem-solve as needed.
The individual must enjoy working with students, providing advice on how to troubleshoot/resolve issues, and assisting students to ensure their success.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship and employment authorization for this position now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Preferred Start Date: November 1, 2026
Prior medical student teaching experience at any institution for two years or more.
Prior experience with coaching or mentoring.
Demonstrated interest in medical student education, including small group facilitation.
Demonstrated interest in health systems science.
Demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning, a growth mindset, and a reflective humanistic approach to working with learners and colleagues

Responsibilities

Facilitate Health and Society small groups in the first year of medical school on select Wednesday afternoons from 12- 5pm
Facilitate COMPASS Conversation small groups in the first year of medical school during select Wednesday afternoons
Facilitate select small group sessions during Basecamp weeks
Facilitate select small group sessions during the Advanced Science Courses
Facilitate select career-advising sessions designed to prepare students for residency applications.
Attend Faculty Development sessions and Guide check-ins 1x per month, and review notes from sessions not attended
Attend COMPASS faculty retreat for 1 day/year
Attend individual “just-in-time" faculty development sessions for all Health & Society and COMPASS Conversation sessions selected to facilitate
Meet with each student in the COMPASS group(s) covered one-on-one approximately 3-5 times per year to review progress and create learning goals
Meet with students as needed for additional coaching or counseling
Address immediate student issues, including off-hours concerns in emergent situations in conjunction with the Office of Student Life (OSL)
Document all meetings with students
Maintain close communication with the Office of Student Life around students concerns; utilizing OSL and appropriate campus referral sources as needed
Attend Trek Progress Committee meetings (approximately 1 per month, scheduled during faculty development sessions on Wednesday). The Trek Progress Committee oversees student progress through the curriculum
For students they coach, the Guide would be responsible for summarizing the student’s progress but would not vote
Attend 1st year student orientation, expected one full day commitment and one half-day commitment
Attend and arrange college social events 4-6 times per year for your students, when covering
Mentor 4th year Student Leaders (Navigators) around planning/executing individual events