Course Director, ECR 2

Compensation: $75,000.00 - $84,192.94 based on experience

Position Summary:

ECR 2 is a required course for all second year Chicago Medical School and Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine students. ECR 2 builds upon ECR 1, a required course in the curriculum, where students learn history-taking, physical examination, and other clinical skills. In ECR 2, students build on their clinical reasoning skills, including connecting clinical assessment to the pathophysiology of common disease, the general approach to patients with common symptoms, and interpretation of basic diagnostic studies. Students also participate in a series of hands-on clinical experiences with real patients and in simulated environments. The course covers fall, winter and spring terms. The primary methods of teaching are lecture, small group discussion, skills building workshops, and preceptorship experiences in real clinical settings. This position is a hybrid.

The Essentials of Clinical Reasoning 2 (ECR 2) Course Director is responsible for coordinating all facets of the course, including, but not limited to, oversight of lectures and hands-on labs; the clinical preceptorship experiences, learning management site content; exam preparation; student remediation as needed; and communication and collaboration with other course faculty, other course directors, simulation center, and appropriate curriculum committees.

Our generous benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision plans; paid parental leave; flexible spending accounts; and a 403(b) retirement plan which includes an 8% employer contribution after two years of service. RFUMS is committed to employee well-being and work-life balance. Part-time staff who work at least 18.5 hours a week are eligible for up to 15 prorated days of vacation / paid leave, 15 pro-rated sick days, and holiday pay (if regularly scheduled to work on a University holiday), plus 2 floating holidays.

Who We Are

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) is a graduate health sciences university committed to serving the population through the interprofessional education of health and biomedical professionals and the discovery of knowledge dedicated to improving wellness. The university embodies the spirit of inquiry and excellence modeled by its namesake Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose Photo 51 was crucial to solving the structure of DNA.

Today, the university's 6 colleges continue Dr. Franklin's legacy through rigorous academics, pioneering research, and innovative community service. Our unique interprofessional education model allows students to learn from and with each other in a variety of settings, including our simulation labs, the student-led Interprofessional Community Clinic, and through partnerships with area hospitals and clinics. RFU is a national leader in interprofessional research and practices, and is nationally recognized for its research in areas including neuroscience, brain-related diseases, inherited disorders, proteomics, cancer cell biology and immunology, cardiac resuscitation, and gait and balance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

A summary of the roles and responsibilities of Course Director of Essentials of Clinical Reasoning (ECR) 2 consists of the following:

Serve as Course Director for the second year medical and podiatric students in the interprofessional course Essentials of Clinical Reasoning 2. Coordinate all facets of the courses, including, but not limited to:

• Design and development of all lectures, course activities, and skills labs
• Oversight of the Learning Management Site content
• Design and oversight of all examinations and student remediation as needed
• Communication and collaboration with other course faculty and course directors
• Work with Assistant Course Director of ECR 1 & 2 in reviewing format and skills with preceptors to ensure consistency in approach during lab and workshop sessions
• Attend meetings and participate in planning and coordinating goals/objectives with ECR1/2, M1/M2 course directors, and the Preclerkship Assistant Dean
• Prepare a course syllabus, and the yearly required course review report
• Communicate with the Curriculum Committee on course modifications as appropriate per policies and procedures

Course Goals/Objectives/Syllabus/Assessment:

• Establish goals and objectives of the courses
• Establish grading policies
• Determine reading assignments to reflect course goals and objectives
• Maintain syllabi for both courses and present to students at the start of each academic year
• Review all course surveys

Lecture Planning:

• Prepare and present learning content not provided by other speakers
• Coordinate lecturing clinicians and ensure lectures are appropriate to the level of training
• Monitor lectures and ensure consistency with course objectives
• Incorporate small-group / problem-based learning within the course
• Utilize technology to reinforce learning through various media
• Oversee Patient Day(s) and assignment(s) design

Exams and Grades:

• Write/modify and review exam questions to accurately reflect course content and objectives and academically appropriate topics while introducing students to clinical reasoning skills through USMLE boards-style questions
• Assign student grades based on student assessment information provided by faculty input and student performance data

Student Support

• Communicate with the CMS Office of Medical Education regarding issues such as students in academic, professional or clinical difficulties and accommodate students with disabilities and their scheduling. Manage any unprofessional behavior according to RFUMS policies

M2 Clinical Skills Course Director:

• Review and finalize the clinical skills curriculum website (D2L) so that it contains the necessary communication and information for all learners.
• Develop and/or review all questions for examinations and evaluations for all clinical skills course prior to utilization
• Monitor evaluations and student performance to assure high quality experiences and learning outcomes.
• Review student evaluations of faculty and assist in the formulation of remediation and faculty enhancement as necessary.
• Monitor performance data to ensure comparable student experiences and compliance with the learning objectives.

ECR 2 Off-Site Preceptorship

• Provide the educational direction for the placement of each student at the clinical site.
• Provide consultation regarding student placements, supervision, and periodic review of student progress towards meeting educational objectives.
• Coordinate clinical preceptorship experiences
• Liaise with clinical sites and coordinate onboarding.

Other duties as assigned by the Chair, Foundational Sciences and Humanities.

Conditions of Employment

• Must achieve satisfactory results from a background check

Required Education and Experience:

• Doctor of Medicine MD, or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine DO
• Five years of teaching experience at the graduate level in a health professional school or hospital.
• An official transcript for the highest degree earned and also the highest clinical degree earned, if different and relevant to the position.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and problem-solving ability
• Ability to work collaboratively with clinical and basic science faculty and outside preceptors in organizing off-site clinical experiences
• Understanding of interprofessional medical education implementation methods
• Communicating in a timely fashion via email, phone or in-person

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching through facilitation of interactive student-centered case discussion
• Experience in medical education curriculum development
• Experience with other educational or healthcare-related accrediting bodies

Typical Physical Demands & Working Conditions:

• Must have the mental and physical capabilities to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Requires the ability to travel to affiliated clinical sites as needed.

EOE, Including Disability / Vets