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 (SoM) and provides program management for the Fundamentals of Medical Science and Research block in the Foundations Phase curriculum. 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, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) Regional Deans and Administration, and UWSOM medical students. This position also works with 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 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.

Duties And Responsibilities
Management and Administration of SoM Scholarship (70%)

• Manage and administer the Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) required scholarship program/course and serve as the lead for communicating and promoting this student program across WWAMI.
• Implement a structured approach for fulfilling the Independent Investigative Inquiry (Triple I) 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 Director of Medical Student Scholarship, Research Advisors at the WWAMI regional campuses and SoM programs to develop/maintain the Triple I Canvas course site. Assist the Director of Medical Student Scholarship with evaluating Canvas assignments for the Scholarship of Discovery and Scholarship of Integration selectives. Work collaboratively with WWAMI Regional campuses, Rural Programs, and Global Health to execute the annual WWAMI-wide Medical Student Research Poster Session.
•  Pre-review scientific posters for presentation at the annual UW SoM student poster session.
•  Manage the UW School of Medicine’s participation in Western Medical Research Conference regional meeting (~65 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.  Assign students re-location stipends for summer research across six Cost Centers.
• 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 Medicine, Health and Society, Clinical Research Methods, Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program (R/UOP), 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.
• Align UWSoM Scholarship with Liaison Committee on Medical Education (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 commendations and/or 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 Canvas Learning Management System to build content for students.
•  Utilize project management techniques and tools 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 FMR 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 Course Directors for FMR grade submission.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in science-related field or equivalent.
• Minimum 2 years administrative experience.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

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, fast paced, 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.

Desired Qualifications

• Background in higher education; preferable medical education.

About Organization

Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the West Coast and is one of the preeminent research universities in the world. Located minutes from downtown Seattle, the main UW campus provides gorgeous views of the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges and, every spring, attracts visitors from all over to world who come to witness the blooming of its cherry blossom trees.

As the state’s flagship university, the UW serves more students than any other institution in the Northwest. In addition to its Seattle campus, the University has thriving campuses in Tacoma and Bothell and a robust professional and continuing education program.

Anyone can enjoy and be enriched by all the UW has to offer, including world-class libraries, art, music, drama, sports and the highest quality medical care in Washington state.

Being public also means being engaged with our communities, and through knowledge and discovery we are elevating the quality of lives of others.