Clerkship Director, Surgery

Reporting to the Phase 2 Director of the M.D. Program (“Director”) who reports to the Assistant Dean of Clinical Sciences (“ADCS”) in the Office of UME, the Clerkship Director (“CD”) is responsible for the central administrative and educational oversight of clerkship programs in a clinical specialty discipline at hospital sites affiliated with New York Medical College (“NYMC”) School of Medicine (“NYMC” “SOM” or “College”). Responsibilities inherent to the role of the CD include administrative, evaluative, advisory, and professional responsibilities that are in turn associated with Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) guidelines and requirements.

1. Administrative Responsibilities

• Lead the orientation to the clerkship program for students rotating across all affiliated sites that reviews the clerkship’s goals and objectives and assessment measures
• Participate in clerkship didactic programs as a visible teacher whenever possible
• Oversee and collaborate with affiliated site directors to ensure that all students have comparable schedules/ duty hours and balance of required activities
• Develop and maintain an up-to-date course syllabus and course materials within the learning management system (LEO) that are accurate and facilitate student learning
• Participate as an active member of the Third- & Fourth-Year Curriculum Subcommittee of the Education and Curriculum Committee; attend monthly and ad hoc meetings
• Meet with the Phase 2 Director and the ADCS at least twice per year to review clerkship progress and individual performance
• Participate in student transition programs as a small group leader and recommend additional departmental faculty to participate in these programs

2. Student Feedback, Assessment and Remediation Responsibilities

• Monitor the mid-clerkship feedback process, ensuring that all students at all sites have one or more meaningful feedback conversations with a designated faculty member
• Collect and review content of mid-clerkship feedback and provide constructive feedback to faculty members to continue to improve their skills in this area
• Immediately communicate identified student problems to the Office of Student Affairs, the Phase 2 Diretor, and/or ADCS; meet with any students requiring assistance or remediation
• Ensure final grades with narrative comments for students are completed for all rotating students according to deadlines set by the ADCS and Third- and Fourth- Year Subcommittee (e.g., within four weeks of the end of the clerkship rotation)
• Participate as a faculty evaluator in the Clinical Competency Assessment for Year Three Students

3. Program and Faculty Evaluation Responsibilities

• Review student evaluations provided by the Director of Assessment and Evaluation and UME Office, and create short- and long-term action plans as appropriate, and in concert with the academic department chair, Phase 2 Director and the ADCS
• Develop process with the academic department chair whereby faculty and resident teaching evaluation summaries are communicated to affiliate site representative and faculty for the purposes of continuous quality improvement
• Complete annual clerkship director reflection form or, other course evaluation tool per the Phase 2 Director/ADCS, to outline areas of strength and areas that need improvement, and to support institutional continuous quality improvement
• Review feedback about faculty and resident teaching performance
• Identify faculty for outstanding teaching recognition(s) and bring to the attention of the Phase 2 Director/ADCS
• Identify faculty that warrant remediation and bring to the attention of the Phase 2 Director/ADCS and academic department chair; work to develop an action plan in concert with local site leadership (e.g., chair, chief of service, residency program director) and the Office of Faculty Affairs/Development and UME, as appropriate

4. Affiliate Clinical Site Responsibilities

• Supervise local site directors at all affiliated clinical sites
• Schedule meetings among all site directors at least bi-annually to review clerkship feedback and to ensure site comparability and quality
• When possible, visit each affiliate site annually, document your visit and provide formal communication on your findings to the Phase 2 Director/ADCS, Office of UME, and academic department chair

5. Advisory Role & Responsibilities

• Counsel students for career development in your field
• Oversee and participate in the identification, recruitment, development of faculty career mentors/ advisors/ sponsors in your discipline and/or sub-specialty area, and at least bi-annually communicate a roster of faculty members to the Offices of Student Affairs and UME
• Incorporate and utilize career advising materials provided by the Office of Student Affairs
• Write letters of recommendation as requested by students
• Oversee and ensure that all departmental letters for residency program applications are of high quality and completed in a timely manner

6. Professional Development

• Maintain board certification and/or active MOC in specialty discipline
• Participation in Medical Education Grand Rounds and faculty development workshops
• Attendance at national clerkship director or other appropriate education-related meeting(s)
• Scholarly pursuit encouraged

(A) Education requirement:  M.D., D.O. with experience and demonstrated interest in undergraduate medical education; board-certification/eligibility and/or active MOC status in related clinical discipline

(B) Licenses or certifications:  None;  Advanced training in health professions education preferred

(C) Technical/computer skills:  Computer literacy in PC and Mac-based software applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and MS Office Suite, College’s learning management system (LEO), virtual platforms (Zoom, etc.)

(D) Prior experience

• Experience developing, implementing, and planning complex medical education programs and curricula
• Evidence of excellence in teaching in an undergraduate medical education and/or other medical education setting
• Experience in faculty development, educational research, and academic scholarship preferred

(E) Other skills

• Outstanding interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships internally and externally with colleagues, stakeholders, faculty, and staff
• Excellent leadership skills, planning and organization skills requiring time management in a deadline-driven and goal-oriented environment
• Ability to efficiently manage multiple projects concurrently from inception to completion
• Ability to exercise sound judgment routinely and independently in making decisions
• Understand organizational and change management and its processes with track record of working collaboratively to plan and organize successful initiatives
• Ability to engage and motivate a group of diverse team members
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to role model and work cooperatively with colleagues, supervisors, and support staff
• Ability to oversee and maintain an effective team of task-oriented employees who can work both autonomously on projects and as a team
• Ability to help maintain a positive work environment built on trust and camaraderie among team members
• Courage and maturity to make difficult decisions when required
• Ability to give, accept, and act on constructive feedback
• Demonstrate the highest standard of professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and ethical behavior in all aspects of personal and professional actions and performance, including discretion and confidentiality that upholds the Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Physical and Environmental Demands

General office environment: ability to travel to affiliate clerkship sites