Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in the School of Physical Therapy

Position Description

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU), in partnership with the national search firm, Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications for two open positions of Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.  The program seeks contemporary practice expertise and teaching experience in motor control/pediatrics or applied neuroscience/adult neuro rehab environments; other areas of contemporary expertise will also be considered.  Additional responsibilities will include participating in ongoing curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation; teaching assigned courses; advising and mentoring students; establishing and maintaining a record of research and scholarly activity; providing community service; and participating in program and university committees as appropriate. Academic rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, with a mission to educate and train health care providers emphasizing service among rural and underserved areas in the Northwest, is recruiting for additional faculty members to join our innovative and enthusiastic team in the brand-new School of Physical Therapy (SOPT).

PNWU strives to enhance and maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment which seeks contributions from those of diverse backgrounds who represent and advocate for the communities we serve. We are part of a health science university and work with medical, nursing, pharmacy, and occupational therapy starting in fall 2023 and school of dentistry to begin fall of 2025. Interprofessional education is a strong foundation at PNWU with faculty and students training together as an interprofessional team. In addition, the SOPT hosts two pro-bono clinics for students and faculty to practice and treat many of our communities’ most vulnerable populations. 

The SOPT is housed in a brand-new 28,000 sq ft building with classroom space, study space, and faculty and staff offices.  Our Center for Applied Movement Sciences lab is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for research, practice and education including: Protokinetics Zeno Mat, electromyography, wearable motion sensors, perturbation treadmill, Bertec posturography, BTE Primus RS, and a Bioness overhead harness system.  We share many resources at PNWU, as part of their medical school, such as the large auditorium, multiple lecture rooms, orthopedic principles and practice lab, cadaver dissection lab, and high-tech simulation center. The campus is slated for an additional 80,000 sq ft Student Learning Center (SLC) building with expanded clinical learning and student spaces. It is truly an excellent time to be at PNWU!

The DPT program recently received Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  The curriculum is grounded in our mission and designed to produce a reflective generalist who offers evidence-informed quality care, in a compassionate and professional manner, as a competent member of the interprofessional team in rural and medically underserved communities. We matriculated our first cohort of 34 students in August 2022, and recently welcomed the Class of 2026.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT https://www.pnwu.edu/academics/sopt/

We are seeking faculty members who are:

• Interested in joining a university with a mission of training health care professionals emphasizing service among rural and medically underserved communities
• Contemporary practice expertise and teaching experience in motor control/pediatrics or applied neuroscience/adult neuro rehab environments; other areas of contemporary expertise will also be considered.
• Experienced PT educators with a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarly activity to contribute to the profession of physical therapy and mission at PNWU
• Inspired to strive for a program of excellence with strong communication, organization, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
• Committed to the profession’s vision to transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience
• Experienced or have interest in interprofessional education and simulation as student learning experiences
• Engaged in professional associations and committed to professional and community service

Qualifications

Candidates with academic doctorate degree (PhD, EdD, DSc) or experience teaching in a DPT program are preferred; ABD candidates may be considered. Candidates with post-professional DPT and board certification or exceptional clinical experience will be considered. A minimum of 3 years of practice. Licensed or eligible for PT licensure in Washington.

About The Institution

About the PNWU School of Physical Therapy (SOPT):
The SOPT is student-focused, patient-centered, collaborative, and dynamic learning environment that centers around PNWU’s established culture of interprofessional collaboration, compassion, innovation, and social responsibility, resulting in a new wave of physical therapist capable of revolutionizing the health of our communities. 

The SOPT is housed in a brand-new 28,000 sq. ft. building with classroom, study, faculty, and staff office spaces. We share many resources at PNWU with other programs including a large auditorium, multiple lecture rooms, orthopedic principles and practice lab, cadaver dissection lab, and high-tech simulation center. The campus is slated for an additional 80,000 sq ft Student Learning Center (SLC) building with expanded clinical learning and student spaces.

The SOPT Center for Applied Movement Science (CAMS) is a research, teaching, and pro bono treatment lab (1,860 sq ft) with a full range of brand-new state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment. The SOPT will host two pro-bono clinics for students and faculty to support our communities most vulnerable populations. It is truly an excellent time to work for PNWU!

The CAMS lab has the following resources:

• Bioness Vector Gait and Support System dynamic body weight support with 25-foot track
• Bertec Computerized Dynamic Posturography/Immersive Virtual Reality (CDP/IVR) System for balance assessment and training
• MediTouch BalanceTutor^TM perturbation treadmill with medial/lateral and forward/backward perturbation capability with force plate, IMUs, and interactive balance gaming
• Protokinetics Zeno^TM Walkway 26-foot gait analysis system
• Noraxon myoMOTION^TM Ultium 3D IMU portable motion capture system with video and EMG sync capability
• Noraxon myoMUSCLE^TM Ultium wireless electromyography (EMG) system with internal IMUs
• Bioness L300Go Plus functional electrical stimulation for foot drop and thigh weakness
• Bertec Vision Advantage (BVA) vestibular ocular reflex and gaze stability testing
• Bertec COBALT^TM concussion screening/management and athlete balance system
• MicroMedical RealEyes^TM 505 Video Frenzel goggle system
• Mobility Research LiteGait® with Smart BiSym^TM automatic body weight support adjustment, GaitKeeperTM Treadmill with GaitSens^TM gait analysis system
• BTE PrimusRS multiple resistance (Isotonic, Isometric, Isokinetic, CPM) rehabilitation system

About The Community

About Yakima, Washington:
PNWU is in the Yakima Valley of Washington, a region that is rich in diversity, embracing an enticing mixture of breathtaking landscape, culture, and fresh opportunities. Within an hours’ drive in any direction awaits a myriad of recreational activities such as skiing, snowboarding, rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, fly-fishing, boating, camping, and hiking just to name a few. Yakima is a place where home and living unite, breeding the true spirit of the Pacific Northwest into the University of Health Sciences that resides here. https://www.visityakima.com/  & https://www.chooseyakimavalley.com/living-here/

Application Process

Questions relating to these faculty positions in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences can be directed in confidence to Dr. Peggy Trueblood, Founding Program Director at ptrueblood@pnwu.edu.

 Applications can be directed to the University’s executive search consultant:

Christopher S. Healy, President
Scott Healy & Associates
chris@scotthealy.com

A complete application should include the following:

1. Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
2. Updated CV;
3. Three (3) professional references with contact information, title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)

The search will remain open until the positions are filled.

The University shall not discriminate against faculty, staff, volunteers, students, or applicants on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, religion, national origin, age, disabilities, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law for any reason including recruitment, selection, and promotion.