Physician Assistant- Director of Physician Assistant Student Education
About This Position
The Director of Physician Assistant Student Education position at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, is based on the current establishment of the Physician Assistant Clinical Trainee Program supported by the COS. The Director is responsible for the management, structure and administration of the PA Clinical Trainee Program, ensuring the program complies with VA OAA standards and accrediting bodies of sponsoring affiliated institutions while activities are being held at VHA site.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Physician Assistant Basic Requirements Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~ Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Preferred Experience: Experience with Medical Education or Education program management within healthcare.
Preferably with Physician Assistants. Experience with PACT or Primary Care. Grade Determinations: Physician Assistant-IV (PA-IV). PA (Facility Education Lead or Residency Program Director). PA Facility Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors are responsible for the management, structure, and administration of the PA clinical trainee program.
They ensure programs comply with VA Office of Academic Affiliations standards and accrediting bodies of sponsoring affiliated institutions while activities are being held at VA facilities. PA Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors develop, implement, and enhance PA clinical education training programs. Experience.
PA Facility Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors require five years of experience, which include educational assignments, such as proctoring PAs or medical students, setting up continuing medical education for local VHA PAs or participating in community health events; serving as a PA director or assistant in a VHA residency program or stipend program; or serving as a member or staff of an academic PA program. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-IV: Ability to develop and update VA PA clinical rotation guidelines within each clinical specialty to ensure students and preceptors understand the responsibilities prior to and upon completion of each clinical rotation.
Skills to maintain student evaluations and oversee changes that facilitate continuous enhancements and improvements of PA trainee clinical experiences. Ability to give quality systematic feedback to the practitioner within a broad range of medical and surgical experiences that meets ARC-PA and affiliated institutional standards. Ability to support trainees to allow open and ongoing feedback regarding collaborating practitioner, the training program, and VA site as a method of continuous improvement.
Skill to properly record and maintain established affiliation agreements and subsequent supporting documents required for VA clinical training programs. Skill to maintain close relationships and open and ongoing communication with academic affiliates PA program directors and clinical coordinators participating in the PA trainee program. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
A PA IV position exceeds the full performance level expected of VHA PAs. This grade is based on the assigned duties of the position and is not an entitlement. If a PA is selected for a PA IV position, then later leaves the position, they do not retain the PA IV (unless the new position also qualifies as a PA IV position).
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
Major Duties
This position is a 1.0 FTE with split responsibility between administrative/education and clinical at .3 FTE and .7 FTE. DUTIES: Coordinate all clinical rotations and oversee credentialing standards are fulfilled by PA trainees and credentialing coordinators prior to rotation starts. George E.
Wahlen VA Medical Center rotations offered: Primary Care -University of Utah PA trainees Mental Health - Psychiatry - Idaho State PA trainees By request for solo students: Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Community Based Outpatient Clinic Ensure that all trainees participate in required credentialing procedures and orientation process with identified established and current VA policies and trainee's role within the VA system. Educate preceptors and provide established PA training guidelines from our academic affiliates and supervisory standards of practice established MEDVAMC policies and procedures. Develop and provide continuously updated PA Student/Resident Orientation Program.
Provide VA PA clinical rotation guidelines within each specialty from each PA Program. Ensures understanding of students and preceptor responsibilities prior to and upon completion of each clinical rotation as mandated by ARC-PA standards. Develop and maintains required student evaluations and directs change toward continuous enhancement and improvement of PA trainee clinical experiences.
Ensure that supervising practitioners provide quality supervision and systematic feedback within a broad range of medical and surgical experiences that meets ARC-PA and affiliated institutional standards. Support trainees to give open and ongoing feedback regarding supervising practitioners, the training program, and VA site as a method of continuous improvement. Reviewing feedback through the Learner's Survey during and after their training.
Ensure accurate account of the facility's participation in tracking PA Preceptors and trainees for purpose of Annual Health Service Training Report. Ensure proper record and maintenance of established affiliation agreements and subsequent supporting documents required for VA clinical training programs with the participating PA Programs. Provide vital link between education and practice through routine meetings with PA Program Directors.
Maintains close relationships and open and ongoing communication with academic affiliates PA program directors and clinical coordinators participating in the PA Trainee Program. Maintain close relationships and open communication with VA preceptors to keep them informed of upcoming educational and training opportunities, changes, or conflicts in schedules and other issues as they arise. Monitor the provision and documentation of the end of rotation evaluation by the Preceptor for PA trainees.
Guide action regarding trainee-related problems. Facilitate communication with public/private partnerships and engagement with external communities. Commit to inter-professional health education and to building a stronger community of physician assistants, other healthcare professionals, and students.
Advise senior administration on innovations in health care delivery and education and enhances the visibility and recognition of Physician Assistants. Attend staff and committee meetings as assigned by the Chief of Staff (Executive Committee of the Medical Staff, Peer Review, Credentialing). Responsible for all human resources, education, service care line, payroll, and occupational health administrative requirements, ie PIV, Physicals if required, TMS training.
Precept trainees 3-5 days per week while in clinic as a PACT PA (Primary Care Provider). Practice primary care/internal medicine in a team based model (PACT) with an interdisciplinary approach. This primary care role is incumbent with a high degree of responsibility and independence to manage their own panel of patients.
Evaluate patient care delivery systems and identify barriers to safe and effective patient care. Present clinical findings and recommendations to management officials. Facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
Implement clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon medical literature research findings to enhance patient care and outcomes. Participate in the development of the PA patient care audit process with in-dept review and analysis. Demonstrate an elevated level of autonomy treating seriously ill and multi-symptomatic patients through both Focused Professional Practice Evaluation and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: ADHOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Conditions of Employment
All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
You may be required to serve a probationary period.
Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Education
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
How You Will Be Evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Additional Information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/06/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12921687. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account.
Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference
Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.