Director of Pre-Health Professions Advising Program

October 21, 2024

Industry: Private

Employment Type:- Full Time

Work Hours:- 8 Hours

Locations:- USA

Full Job Description:-

Job Summary

This position develops and leads the pre-health advising program, providing guidance and support to over 500 pre-health students and alumni as they pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and other healthcare fields. The Director of Pre-Health Professions Advising Program oversees professional advising initiatives (including guidance on scholarships, internships, and career pathways), retention initiatives, as well as admissions, alumni relations and fundraising efforts for the Program, reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and serving all University of Portland students.

Core Duties

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Develop and implement a pre-health advising program focused on academic preparation, professional opportunities, and career pathways. Stay informed of the most recent trends in medical professional schools and medical career pathways. Develop strategic partnerships (and enhance existing partnerships) with medical professional programs to promote students’ success and increase student resources and opportunities. Prepare students from all majors for admittance to medical professional schools.
Serve as a resource and liaison between pre-health students and external partners, facilitating research opportunities, clinical experiences, internships and volunteer opportunities in healthcare settings, expanding the existing network of such opportunities.
Collaborate with Academic Advisors to promote early and continued success of pre-health interested students across campus so that all advisors understand curricular requirements for different pre-health fields and are supported in their work to advise students related to course and curricular pathways leading to healthcare professional schools.
Collaborate with faculty advisors and staff of the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Career Education Center toward mentorship of students interested in different specific health careers in areas for which faculty and staff have specific expertise; towards promoting best practices for recommendation letter writing for applications to healthcare professional schools; and for collaboration on internship development.
Mentor and Cultivate Student Leadership supporting existing pre-health professions student organizations (five); explore developing student peer advisor program for Health Professions.
Support current students and alumni through individual and group advising and programming, work to develop programming to support writing of personal statements by applicants (e.g., bootcamp or as part of Health Professions class), guide applicants through the process (e.g., evaluating strength of their candidacy; securing and writing letters of recommendation; selecting schools; preparing for interviews).
Teaching of the “Applying to Medical School” and “Introduction to Health Professions” courses, as instructor of record or collaborating instructor.
Promote and grow the Pre-Health Advising Program and resources. Cultivate alumni relationships in support of the program; collaborate with the UP Development staff to establish strategic fundraising goals and relationships with donors; seek grant funding to boost specific initiatives of interest, particularly related to success of students who are first-generation and from historically marginalized groups in medicine.
Collaboratively develop retention initiatives based on continuous review of trends in the student experience. Identify struggles of students and develop strategies for student success in STEM disciplines. Collaborate with the STEM Department chairs and faculty, and staff in the Student Academic Resource Center, to define strategic objectives for retention program development and execution. Seek grant and donor funding for resource-requiring initiatives.
Manage annual reporting and budgets for the Program Organize and host the Annual Health Professional School Fair; oversee the operating budget for the program; manage endowed fund spending towards advancing the program.
Highlight the Pre-Health Advising Program on campus, in the region and nationally. Give Admissions presentations, Orientation and Family Weekend presentations, and collaborate with the with the Development Office, toward building the reputation of the University of Portland as a leading University in the West for pre-health professions preparation.

Other duties as relevant to the duties of the position or as assigned by supervisor or designee.

Please note that the above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s purview and responsibility.

Education & Experience

Required: Postgraduate Degree (e.g., M.S. or M.D.) plus 3 years related experience
Preferred: Master’s degree in STEM, Master’s in Higher Education administration, or a Health Professional degree
Preferred: Experience in health professions advising or health professions school admissions.
Preferred: Experience engaging with students from lower-income backgrounds and historically marginalized communities and programs that support them.
Preferred: Teaching experience at undergraduate or graduate level
Or a combination of equivalent education and/or experience.

Certifications & Licenses

None.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong knowledge of the national and regional trends in health professions and ability to leverage an existing network or grow a network of contacts involved in Admissions work at healthcare professional schools in the region and nation.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion; viewing practice and policy through an equity-focused lens.
Expertise in application processes for medical and/or other health professional schools.
Ability to function well in a busy work environment, working independently and as part of a team. Ability to work independently and to effectively receive supervisory input.
Proven success in following through with and completing projects, including multiple projects being worked on at the same time.
Strong orientation towards taking initiative and ownership of projects and assignments and
being proactive with projects, assignments, quality, professional development, and process
improvements.
Ability to prioritize, multitask, be flexible with changing circumstances, and meet deadlines.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness.
Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem‐solving skills.
Strong public speaking skills.
Ability to conduct research and present data in a clear and persuasive manner.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to organize and write clear and
concise reports.
Ability to routinely and independently exercise sound judgment in making decisions.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and effectively handle highly sensitive and confidential
information with sound judgment, tact, and discretion.
Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively
via online platforms and written communication.
Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective
partner with diverse students, faculty, and staff.
Ability to self‐monitor for quality work product output and continued professional
development.
Ability to establish effective working relationships, professional rapport, and effectively
accomplish work within a University setting that includes a wide array of individuals, groups,
policies, and processes.
Effective ability to use and learn computers, technology, software, and applications at level
of sophistication required for the duties of the position, including, without limitation,
Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), the internet, and computerized
maintenance management systems.
- All University of Portland positions require the ability to quickly learn and use new technologies, software, and applications in depth and at level of proficiency required for duties of the position. In most situations, the necessity of learning, using, and supporting new technologies, software, and/or applications does not change a job description nor make the position one that involves higher level duties.

Physical Requirements

Frequently: sit, perform desk‐based computer tasks; use fine manipulation and grasp; use a telephone; write by hand; sort and file paperwork.
Occasionally: stand and walk; twist; lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
Occasionally: ability to attend events and activities on or off campus.
Frequently: ability to interact and communicate with members of the University and others as necessary.

Working Conditions

Hours of employment: sometimes may require working flexible, irregular, and/or longer hours, including early mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends, when necessitated by projects.
Work-related stress: sometimes there may be stress from work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.

Work Standards

Respect for the University’s mission and Catholic identity: demonstrates commitment to learning, respecting, and contributing to the mission of the University, a Catholic and Congregation of Holy Cross Institution. The University’s mission statement states: “we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world.” The University’s Statement of Inclusion states: “Our belief in the inherent dignity of each person is founded upon the social teaching of the Catholic Church. At the center of that teaching is the fundamental mandate that every person, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social or economic class, age, or disability shall be treated with respect and dignity.”
- The full Mission Statement is at: www.up.edu/about/mission.
  The full Statement of Inclusion is at: www.up.edu/disclosures/inclusion.
Promote culture of safety: demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
Compliance with laws and policies and procedures: subject to and expected to comply with all applicable laws and University, departmental, and other applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to, the personnel, business, and/or other policies of the University.
Compliance with driving?related laws and requirements: when conducting University business while driving, must comply with the Oregon Vehicle Code and University of Portland driving requirements.
Interpersonal skills: demonstrates the ability to work professionally with all University of Portland community members, external organizations, and any other person or organization employee interacts with in his or her University capacity.

Benefits

Medical and dental insurance, life insurance, sick time and vacation time consistent with University policies, long‐term disability insurance, flexible spending account benefits, tuition remission benefits generally starting after 90 days (employee) or 2 years (spouse and children) of employment, retirement contributions generally starting after 2 years of employment, and eligibility for the University’s home purchase assistance program consistent with program requirements. (Benefits are subject to all relevant University policies, practices, contracts, and any other relevant materials.)