About the Postgraduate Fellowship
The Midwestern University PA Program offers a 12-month, paid, full-time, Postgraduate Academic Fellowship for Physician Assistants at the rank of Visiting Instructor. The Fellowship curriculum, which blends didactic instruction, self-directed learning, application and evaluation, is designed to provide Fellows with the education and skills necessary to effectively transition from clinical practice to academia. Upon successful completion of the Fellowship, graduates are awarded a certificate of completion from the Midwestern University College of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program. The certificate provides recognition of postgraduate education and academic preparation for a position as a PA Program faculty member.
The didactic and self-directed learning components of the Fellowship include instruction and assignments related to educational theory, instructional design, student management, leadership and administration, and delivery of clinical education. Fellows apply acquired knowledge and skills throughout the course of the curriculum by participating in faculty responsibilities within the didactic and clinical phases of the PA Program. These responsibilities include developing and delivering didactic lectures, conducting small groups, implementing course design, creating performance metrics to assess learning, participating on committees, engaging in clinical site development, and completing a scholarly project. Fellows demonstrate completion of the curriculum by creating an academic portfolio, completing a capstone project, and submitting a scholarly work for consideration for publication or presentation.
Qualifications
Applicants seeking a Fellowship position must possess the following qualifications:
- Graduation from an ARC-PA accredited PA Program
- NCCPA certification and Arizona licensure (or eligibility for licensure)
- Master's degree in PA Studies or a related field
- Minimum of one year of clinical experience as a Physician Assistant
Additional Applicant Requirements
Applicants are also required to submit the following:
- A cover letter
- Three letters of recommendation
- A personal statement
- Resume
- Transcripts from the PA Program they attended
How to Apply
To apply, please go to Employment at MWU and look for the title 'Visiting Instructor - Physician Assistant Fellowship.
Frequently Asked Questions
The position, Visiting Instructor, is for our PA Academic Fellowship. The fellowship started in 2014 for clinically practicing PAs (with at least 1-2 years of experience) interested in making the transition into academia. Since 2014, we have had 6 PAs complete the fellowship. The fellowship is 12 months long, full-time, and is structured with a curriculum that pertains to PA education. The two co-directors of the fellowship are Amber Herrick PA-C (aherri@midwestern.edu) and Eve Hoover PA-C (ehoove@midwestern.edu), who both completed the fellowship.
The Midwestern University PA Program offers a 12-month, paid, full-time, Postgraduate Academic Fellowship for Physician Assistants at the rank of Visiting Instructor.
The curriculum consists of eight, six-week modules that cover topics such as curriculum design & evaluation, instructional design/lecture development, accreditation, clinical simulation, IPE, among others. The Fellow acts as a visiting instructor and has the opportunity to teach students in a variety of ways, i.e., lecture, small group, assessment, skills, mentorship and other areas.
In prior years, the start time has been flexible and has traditionally been in either August or January.
This experiential opportunity requires the Fellow to come to campus for the one-year. Our program is located in Glendale, Arizona.
If you have at least 1-2 years of clinical experience as a PA and an interest in teaching future PAs, we encourage you to apply.
Applicants are also required to submit the following:
- A cover letter
- Three letters of recommendation
- A personal statement
- Resume
- Transcripts from the PA Program they attended
After the applicant submits a complete application online, the qualified applicants will be invited for a phone interview. Following the phone interview, select applicants will be invited on campus for an on-site interview and opportunity to present to faculty on a medical topic of applicant’s choice.