Adjunct faculty appointments: school of physician assistant studies, pepperdine university

Pepperdine University School of Physician Assistant Studies invites applications for Adjunct Faculty appointments to support its developing graduate Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) Program. Adjunct faculty play a vital role in preparing future Physician Assistants (PA) through high-quality instructional experiences that support student learning, clinical reasoning, professional development, and readiness for clinical practice.

The MSPAS Program seeks candidates who are committed to excellence in PA education and student development.

Adjunct Faculty Responsibilities:

Adjunct faculty may be assigned instructional responsibilities based on program needs and individual qualifications. Responsibilities may include:

• Provide instruction to PA students.
• Supporting student achievement of course learning outcomes and program competencies.
• Facilitate the development of clinical reasoning, professional identity, and safe patient care practices.
• Participating in lectures, laboratory instruction, clinical skills instruction, small-group facilitation, case-based learning, simulation activities, OSCEs, practical assessments, or other instructional activities as assigned.
• Evaluate student performance using established rubrics, evaluation tools and program standards.
• Participating in program committees as assigned.
• Maintain compliance with Program and University policies.
• Communicate regularly with program faculty and leadership to support student success.
• Uphold a supportive, structured, and professional learning environment.

Faculty Expectations

Adjunct Faculty are expected to:

• Be present for all assigned instructional responsibilities.
• Prepare for assigned teaching activities in advance.
• Coordinate any unforeseen absences in advance with course leadership, with appropriate coverage to maintain uninterrupted student instruction.
• Communicate student concerns, performance issues, or professionalism concerns to course leadership in a timely manner.
• Course directors maintain scheduled office hours.
• Model professional and ethical behavior consistent with the expectations of the PA Program and Pepperdine University.

Acceptance of an Adjunct Faculty appointment signifies a commitment to fulfill assigned instructional responsibilities. Failure to meet these expectations may result in reassignment or withdrawal of the appointment.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or doctoral degree from a nationally accredited college or university.
• Minimum of one year of clinical or professional experience.
• Professional licensure, certification, or specialty certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in teaching, precepting, or mentoring PA students or other health professions students.
• Clinical expertise aligned with PA program instructional needs, such as anatomy, biomedical science, clinical medicine, clinical reasoning, pharmacology, medical-surgical content, behavioral and mental health, women’s health, pediatrics, emergency medicine, procedural skills, or other areas of PA practice.
• Experience with simulation, skills instruction, OSCEs, practical assessments, or clinical evaluation tools.
• Experience supporting student learning in a structured academic or clinical education environment.

The ideal candidates will:

• Demonstrate a commitment to student-centered teaching and mentorship.
• Model professionalism, ethical behavior, humility, service, and respect.
• Engage effectively with interdisciplinary teams.
• Support the mission and values of Pepperdine University and the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.