Job Details The Department of Physical Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University invites applications for the position of Director of Clinical Education (DCE) for its Hybrid Distance Learning Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. This distance learning program will operate within the Department of Physical Therapy alongside the department’s well-established residential DPT program. This is an exciting opportunity to have a central leadership role in the development of the clinical education program.
The DCE will serve as a core faculty leader responsible for the design, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of the program's clinical education curriculum. This position is central to expanding a clinical education infrastructure for the new hybrid program that is student-centered, responsive to community health needs, and aligned with contemporary physical therapist practice. The successful candidate will be an experienced physical therapist educator and relationship-builder who can cultivate strong clinical partnerships, support clinical instructors and site coordinators, guide students through clinical readiness and progression, and contribute to accreditation, program assessment, teaching, scholarship, and service.
The DCE will work collaboratively with the program director, program faculty, and the residential DPT clinical education team and clinical partners, to coordinate all integrated and full-time clinical education experiences, ensuring alignment between clinical learning, didactic coursework, and program outcomes. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching in a distance learning environment; however, all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
This is a remote position that requires travel to the Philadelphia campus approximately two to four times per trimester for scheduled student and faculty activities. Clinical Education Leadership and Responsibilities Clinical Education Program Management Lead the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of integrated and full-time clinical education experiences within the hybrid distance learning DPT program.
Develop and maintain a diverse national network of clinical education sites across practice settings, including orthopedic, neurologic, acute care, pediatric, rural, and veteran-serving environments. Build and sustain collaborative relationships with clinical instructors, site coordinators of clinical education (SCCEs), and healthcare partners. Coordinate student clinical assignments and orient students to expectations, professional behaviors, and assessment processes.
Monitor and support student performance before, during, and after clinical experiences. Compliance and Accreditation Contribute to CAPTE accreditation activities, including self-studies, annual reports, and program assessment initiatives related to clinical education. Collaborate with the Program Director, DPT faculty, and Directors of Clinical Education within the residential DPT program to develop and implement clinical education policies, readiness standards, and assessment systems.
Work with program and college experiential learning personnel to oversee systems that track student compliance requirements, including immunizations, background checks, drug screenings, HIPAA/OSHA training, and site-specific requirements. Teaching, Scholarship, and Service As a core faculty member, the DCE will contribute to teaching, scholarship, service, and faculty governance within the DPT program and the Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Teaching Teach or co-teach courses within the hybrid distance learning DPT curriculum based on expertise and program needs. Contribute to learning experiences related to clinical education, professional formation, clinical reasoning, patient management, interprofessional education, and service-learning preparation. Scholarship Maintain a scholarly agenda appropriate to academic rank and expectations for core faculty.
Engage in scholarship related to clinical education, student readiness, competency-based education, clinical performance assessment, interprofessional education, community-engaged learning, health equity, workforce development, professional formation, or related areas. Service Participate in program, college, university, professional, and community service activities, including committee work, clinical education consortia, accreditation initiatives, professional organizations, and community partnerships.
Qualifications Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Experience with hybrid, online, or distance education preferred. Demonstrated proficiency, or willingness to develop expertise, in online and hybrid pedagogy, instructional technology, and evidence-based teaching practices. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and project management skills. Proficiency in database management and educational technology systems. Preparedness to utilize EXXAT/PRISM or similar platforms to support clinical education administration.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities. Commitment to collaboration across healthcare disciplines and diverse organizations Required Qualifications Earned Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Minimum of three (3) years of clinical practice experience as a physical therapist.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and administration within a physical therapist education program, or two (2) years of experience as a Clinical Instructor (CI) or Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE). Demonstrated experience in and understanding of clinical education in physical therapist education, including clinical site development, student placement, student assessment, clinical instructor support, and compliance processes.
Familiarity with CAPTE standards and accreditation expectations related to clinical education. Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively communicate, collaborate, and build relationships with students, faculty, administrators, clinical partners, alumni, and external stakeholders. Evidence of scholarly activity commensurate with an academic appointment.
Evidence of teaching excellence. Demonstrated ability to support student learning, clinical performance development, professional formation, and remediation when necessary. Current physical therapy licensure in Pennsylvania or eligibility for Pennsylvania licensure.
Ability to travel to Philadelphia as required by the program curriculum and program leadership.
Post-professional doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, ScD, or equivalent). Prior higher education experience in teaching, curriculum development, or administration. Experience as a Clinical Instructor (CI) or Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE).
APTA Clinical Instructor Certification. ABPTS board certification, residency, or fellowship training. Experience with CAPTE accreditation processes and student remediation.
The Department of Physical Therapy resides within the Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences which brings together occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, athletic training, and exercise science. The college advances education, research, clinical practice, and community engagement through an interdisciplinary rehabilitation sciences environment. The Department offers physical therapy education through several pathways including a 3+3 exercise science to DPT track, a longstanding traditional in person program which has a national reputation for excellence in physical therapy education, and this new accelerated hybrid distance learning program.
This is a full–time, 12-month academic and administrative appointment. Faculty rank and track will be determined based on the successful candidate’s qualifications, academic record, and alignment with Thomas Jefferson University appointment criteria. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Interested candidates should submit an online application, curriculum vitae, cover letter, and leadership philosophy statement through the Jefferson careers website https://hr.jefferson.edu/careers.html then enter is search box REQ-0037443 Work Shift Workday Day Worker Sub Type Regular Employee Entity Thomas Jefferson University Primary Location Address 901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value.
Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University , home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students.
Jefferson Health , nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.
Jefferson is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status. Benefits Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts.
Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps ), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance. For more benefits information, please click here