Instructor – Physician Assistant (Orthopedic Sports Medicine)

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

2d•$111,010 - $147,846•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics seeks a full-time Instructor – Physician Assistant to join Dr. Rachel Frank’s academic orthopedic sports medicine, joint preservation, and sports surgery practice. This non-tenure-track faculty position is part of an expanding multidisciplinary clinical team caring for patients with athletic injuries, knee and shoulder conditions, and other sports-related musculoskeletal disorders. The PA will collaborate with Dr. Frank, fellow APPs, clinical staff, and trainees to support timely access, high-quality care, and continuity across outpatient, operative, and postoperative settings. The clinical role is onsite in the Denver metropolitan area. Assigned locations may include CU Sports Medicine facilities, Highlands Ranch Hospital, Cherry Creek Medical Center, Broomfield, and other affiliated orthopedic practice or surgical sites. The primary schedule is expected to be weekdays, with occasional early starts, evening commitments, or weekend clinical responsibilities as needed. No independent call is assumed in this draft. The position offers a clinical and academic environment with opportunities for collaborative patient care, operative experience, teaching, and professional development.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited Physician Assistant program.
Current or eligibility for Colorado PA licensure by the start date.
NCCPA certification (PA-C) by the start date.
Current BLS certification; ability to obtain ACLS if required by assigned clinical privileges.
Ability to obtain and maintain required hospital or health-system credentials, privileges, and prescribing authorization as applicable.
Maintain active licensure, certification, clinical privileges, and required institutional training.
Comply with applicable clinical partner policies, including medical surveillance and vaccination requirements.
Strong musculoskeletal assessment and clinical decision-making skills, including sound judgment about when to escalate to a physician.
Effective teamwork, communication, organization, and patient-centered service.
Ability to work across clinic and surgical sites and adapt to changing schedules.

Nice To Haves

Experience in orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, musculoskeletal care, or an operative specialty.
Experience in perioperative care and surgical first-assisting.
Familiarity with Epic, clinical documentation, patient education, and multidisciplinary care coordination.
New graduates with relevant clinical rotations and strong musculoskeletal preparation may be considered.

Responsibilities

Evaluate and manage new and established patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including sports-related knee and shoulder injuries; obtain histories, perform examinations, develop differential diagnoses and evidence-based treatment plans, order and interpret diagnostic studies within scope, and identify cases requiring physician consultation.
Manage assigned follow-up, postoperative, and appropriately selected new-patient visits through independent or parallel PA clinics as experience and privileges permit; coordinate with Dr. Frank and other APPs to support access, continuity, escalation of complex cases, and efficient clinic operations.
Complete preoperative assessments, patient counseling, and surgical preparation; assist Dr. Frank in the operating room, including surgical first-assist responsibilities as privileged; support perioperative orders, medication reconciliation, discharge planning, wound assessments, and postoperative complication triage.
Provide conservative orthopedic treatment and patient education, including rehabilitation and return-to-activity guidance; order physical or occupational therapy, imaging, medications, orthoses, bracing, and durable medical equipment; perform clinically appropriate aspirations, injections, wound care, dressing changes, and splinting or casting. Perform ultrasound-guided procedures only with required training and privileges.
Review test results, respond to patient portal messages and telephone concerns, facilitate referrals, coordinate with physical therapists and multidisciplinary partners, and communicate changes in patient status to Dr. Frank.
Support coverage and handoffs across clinic, surgery, and, when assigned, inpatient or emergency-department consultation settings.
Maintain complete and timely Epic documentation, encounter closure, coding-support documentation, prescriptions and orders within authority, and administrative forms including work or school restrictions and FMLA.
Follow patient safety, infection prevention, privacy, regulatory, and clinical-practice standards, and collaborate with clinic staff to maintain effective workflows.
Participate in orthopedic sports medicine conferences; educate medical students, residents, fellows, and PA learners as appropriate; contribute to patient education materials, clinical protocols, quality-improvement work, and assigned community or athletic-event outreach.
Participate in research and scholarly activities when available based on practice needs and faculty interest.