Principal Faculty, Physician Assistant Programs

National Louis University is seeking a Principal Faculty member for a new Physician Assistant (PA) program launching at its Chicago campus. This 12-month professional practice principal faculty position includes responsibilities in teaching, advising, curriculum design, student evaluation, and programmatic assessment, supporting continuous quality improvement across the didactic and clinical phases of the Physician Assistant program. The annual workload requirement is 36 semester credit hours. Rank will be commensurate with education, experience, and academic record. 

The principal faculty will collaboratively assist the faculty and staff in developing National Louis University’s PA Program, which is seeking Provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The principal faculty position involves ongoing development, management, coordination, and evaluation of the PA Program’s didactic and clinical curriculum, as well as other duties, including scholarship, academic advising, service to the program and college, and PA professional activities within the institution or community.  All faculty will participate in the continuous review, analysis, and evaluation of the PA program's success through ARC-PA standards and ongoing programmatic assessment.

The Principal Faculty will report to the Program Director at the Chicago campus and serve in a leadership role in the Physician Assistant Program. The PA faculty consists of a highly motivated, cohesive group of experienced educators. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive curriculum to prepare students to practice in a variety of clinical settings and specialties.

The National Louis University (NLU) Physician Assistant Program will apply for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The NLU Physician Assistant Program anticipates matriculating its first class in October of 2027, pending achievement of Accreditation - Provisional status at the July of 2027 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

ADMINISTRATION

• Confirm, record, and report remediation instruction is occurring in didactic courses according to department policy and procedure.

• Develop and ensure that fully executed Clinical Affiliation Agreements (CAA) are in place for every rotation site and are kept current.

• Serve as a member of the Education Committee and lead curricular evaluation to ensure high quality education through curriculum development and continuous self-assessment and improvement processes.
• Design original or review and modify as appropriate existing curricula to correlate with established or new course and program outcomes.
• Implement curricula in alignment with the educational objectives of the National Louis University Physician Assistant Program.
• Participate in student recruitment, admission interviews and selection, student progress, and accreditation activities.

  • Coordinate and conduct recruiting and admissions related events or activities when applicable.

  • Participates in data collections, analysis, open house, admissions events, and reporting of pertinent admissions data.

• Prepares, monitors and maintains program clinical year handbooks, preceptor handbooks, reports, case logs, attendance records and other official documentation to ensure students meet program graduation requirements and maintenance of program accreditation status.

TEACHING

• Mentor, instruct and evaluate students within areas of need, expertise, and interest.
• Develop, revise, and publish syllabi that are compliant with institutional and departmental requirements.
• Develop, revise, and maintain student course learning objectives in alignment with session objectives.
• Serve as course director, conduct classroom teaching, and participate in course assignments in a setting promoting team teaching.

• Performs proctoring of tests, OSCEs, evaluations, curriculum development, and curriculum and 4-part ongoing programmatic assessments as needed.

• Understand and use the university provided learning management system to facilitate the course. Turn in grades to the registrar by the posted deadline each semester.
• Develop, revise, adjudicate, and align student assessments with course and session learning objectives.
• Conduct student course remediation activities in accordance with the program policy and procedures.
• Attend guest lectures and ensure content delivered is in alignment with the session learning objectives. Provide peer feedback and evaluation.
• Serve as a faculty advisor and mentor students.
• Participate in lab sessions and simulations.
• Participate in the course review evaluation process and execute the agreed action plan at the next course offering.
• Establish a personal program of peer-reviewed scholarly activity resulting in local, regional, and/or national, presentation or publication.

SERVICE

• Maintain an active role in state and national organizations supporting the educational mission of the program.
• Represent the Department in intramural and extramural community activities.
• Serve as a member of the Department’s PA Education Committee, PA Admissions Committee and PA Student Progress Committee.
• Attend faculty meetings of the Department.
• Participate in student class activities.
• Other duties as assigned by the Department Chair & Program Director.

CLINICAL PRACTICE

• Maintain clinical credentials, including state licensure and national certification, to ensure ongoing alignment with current professional standards and instructional relevance.
• Faculty are encouraged to engage in clinical practice that complements their teaching and supports program goals; however, such activity must not conflict with assigned teaching and administrative responsibilities.
• Requests to engage in clinical practice during working hours will be considered on a       discretionary basis and require prior approval from the Program Director and Department Chair. Release time is not guaranteed and will depend on programmatic needs and budget availability.
• Clinical activity is expected to enhance, not replace or interfere with, faculty commitments to teaching, mentoring, and program administration.
  • Requests to engage in clinical practice during working hours will be considered on a discretionary basis and require prior approval from the Program Director and Department Chair. Release time is not guaranteed and will depend on programmatic needs and budget availability.

Education and Certification:

• A minimum master's degree in physician assistant studies or other discipline if physician assistant degree is less than a Master’s degree. Graduation from an ARC/PA accredited program required
• Current PA-C certification with NCCPA and licensure or eligibility for licensure in the state of Illinois required.

Experience:

• Minimum of Three (3) years of professional clinical experience required.
• Three (3) years of teaching experience preferred. Leadership experience in a clinical, college, university, or post-secondary academic institution preferred.
• Knowledge of the accreditation process for Physician Assistant programs.
• Doctoral preparation or active pursuit and documented scholarly activity preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Innovation in classroom presentation, multimedia resource presentations, virtual and in-person lecturing experience. The ability to work collaboratively as an interprofessional team member.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to effectively communicate with students, staff, instructional faculty including adjunct faculty and guest instructors, and organizational administrators.
• Punctuality, attention to detail, and adherence to due dates are required.
• Proficiency in the use of technology for organization, word processing, learning management system, and communication is essential. Proven track record in building internal and external partnerships.
• Access to reliable transportation as needed.

Commitment to Community and Service:

• A strong commitment to serving the community and fostering student success.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time faculty benefits can be found here.

NLU Faculty salaries are based on rank within each college.  The ranges for each rank for the Physician Assistant Faculty are listed below:

2025 PA 12-Month Faculty Salary Ranges

Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.  Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, current/previous faculty rank, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.

Please include the following with your application:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Teaching Philosophy
• Transcripts (Unofficial)

Optional Additional Attachments:

• Sample Syllabus
• Additional Licenses/Certifications
• Course Evaluations
• Letters of Recommendation