EDUCATION SPECIALIST

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The School of Medicine has an outstanding opportunity for a Education Specialist.

The Education Specialist in the Office of Curriculum serves as the chief administrative manager for Medical Student Scholarship at the School of Medicine. The Education Specialist reports directly to the Assistant Director. The Education Specialist of Medical Student Scholarship works closely with the Faculty Director of Medical Student Scholarship, Director of Curriculum, members of the Scholarship Committee, WWAMI Regional Deans and Administration, and UWSOM medical students. This position also works with the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean for Curriculum, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the Academic and Learning Technologies team, the Director of Educational Evaluation for the School of Medicine, and Dean’s Office directors, managers and staff, and the University of Washington Curriculum and Registrar’s office. This position communicates with the School of Medicine foundation phase students about curriculum and scholarship requirements. This individual oversees the medical student research including the Independent Investigative Inquiry student program, the Medical Student Research Training Program, and the Western Student Medical Research Forum program (WSMRF).  This position serves an important role to effectively communicate research-related scholarship requirements and opportunities for medical students between the curriculum office and the Office of Academic Affairs, the six first-year teaching sites located in Seattle, Eastern Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho and the School’s basic science and clinical faculty and staff throughout the WWAMI region.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Management and Administration of SoM Scholarship (70%):
• Manage and administer the Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) required scholarship program and serve as the lead for communicating and promoting this student program across WWAMI.
• Develop and implement a structured approach for fulfilling the Independent Investigative Inquiry requirement for available selectives offered to UWSOM WWAMI medical students.
• Work with UWSOM registration, to ensure student enrollment in III, and that requirements are met, credits are appropriately assigned and final grades submitted. This includes tracking of all students, including expanded and students on leave to make certain students are on path to complete the III graduation requirement.
• Maintain Independent Investigative Inquiry website to align with current policies, student requirements, and deadlines. Collaborate with multiple sections to effectively link appropriate content to optimize clarity on all Scholarship and Research related School of Medicine Websites.
• Advise students on academic scientific poster presentation content, format, and delivery at required poster session.
• Collaborate with the Director of Medical Student Scholarship, WWAMI regional campuses, SOM Programs to develop the “scholarly distinction” path for III (e.g., the Medical Student Research Training Program for selective 1).
• Work collaboratively with WWAMI Regional campuses, Rural Programs and Global Health to execute the annual WWAMI-wide Medical Student Research Poster Session.
• Review scientific posters at the annual UW SoM student poster session.
• Manage the UW School of Medicine’s participation in Western Student Medical Research Forum national meeting (~35 students every year).
• Represent the UW SoM research priorities on conference calls with deans, faculty and other western medical schools.
• Provide timely communication and advising to UWSOM medical students, faculty and staff on meeting scholarship requirements to include: logistical, financial arrangements, presentation requirements, final product requirements and outside research opportunities.
• Develop and collaborate with the other UWSOM Scholarship programs to create innovative learning objectives and outcome measures associated with the various programs.
• Collaborate with other SOM Foundation phase courses, programs, and departments such as Ecology of Health and Medicine, Clinical Research Methods, Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program (R/UOP), (WWAMI Institute for Simulation in Healthcare) WISH, and Global Health to integrate Scholarship opportunities, polices, and requirements.
• Manage the UWSOM Scholarship Committee Meeting to include, developing agenda items, tracking, compiling data, and follow through on action items.
• Participate in and manage stakeholder workgroups relevant to scholarship and research opportunities for medical students.
• Work with faculty and staff in the WWAMI region to develop research opportunities across the region.
• Conduct, organize, and present regional information sessions, orientations, and debrief sessions with WWAMI Foundation campuses.
• Knowledgeable about Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards to align UWSOM Scholarship with LCME accreditation requirements. Collaborate with Director of Curriculum to participate in LCME reporting on SOM research related activities.
• Develop and implement metrics such as surveys and focus groups to measure III outcomes to promote program improvement.

Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research Course (30%):
• Partner with Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research (FMR) course directors, FMR co-administrator, instructors, students, and regional administrators to develop, implement and maintain the required curriculum.
• Communicate action steps, priorities and stakeholder needs to course directors, instructors and staff.  Communicate concerns regarding FMR curriculum to School of Medicine leadership.
• Collaborate with FMR co-administrator to schedule and chair regular meetings with foundation block directors, instructors, and regional site administrators for FMR, to include: develop agenda items, prioritize work packages, monitor and follow through on action items, and synthesize disparate sources of data and information to inform actions, decision making and approval pathways.
• Utilize project management techniques and tools such as Gantt charts to track and monitor timetables, action items, deliverables and contingency plans for implementation of the FMR curriculum.
• Organize (with FMR co-admin) the work of faculty, including collecting and refining course materials, course delivery, follow through on action items, and assessment.
• Initiate strategic plans and assist with process for systematic review and evaluation of continuous curricular innovation, including development and monitoring of outcomes and plans of action for improvement.
• Organize course retreats to include travel reimbursement for faculty from the WWAMI region, room reservations, catering, and material development.
• Track student progress and report appropriately to Block Directors for FMR grade submission.

Research Activities
This position directly impacts the scope and quality of research activities available to medial students in the School of Medicine during medical school, both at the UW Seattle campus and throughout the WWAMI region.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree in science-related field or equivalent with minimum 2 years administrative experience.

Additional requirements:
• Proven administrative and problem-solving skills.
• Proven organizational skills which highlight ability to use and maintain systems to track information and materials.
• Ability to organize and direct the work of others.
• Expert computer proficiency with spreadsheets, word processing, and databases in a Windows environment.
• Ability to interpret and communicate to others complex policies and procedures.
• Proven leadership and strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience working in large, highly structured environments.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of professionalism, reliability, accuracy, and productivity.
• Ability to handle confidential information responsibly.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain harmonious working relationships and effectively address complex and sensitive administrative issues.
• Proven track record in exercising discretion and independent judgment effectively in decision-making processes.
• Ability to work across multiple levels of an organization to achieve results.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum requirements.

DESIRED REQUIREMENTS
• Background in in higher education; preferable medical education.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The position requires the employee to work beyond a normal work week (e.g. more than 40 hours a week) and intermittently requires evening and weekend time to meet project deadlines and attend meetings.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.