Program Coordinator, Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program

Description

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Program Coordinator. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 1 year (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

The MPAS office oversees 20-40 students training to become Physician Assistants each year. In accordance with policies and standards established by the University of Calgary and the Cumming School of Medicine, the Program Coordinator works closely with the MPAS Clerkship Lead and the Assistant Clerkship Lead – Student Assessment to coordinate clinical learning experiences in the program, including clinical shadowing in the first year and clinical rotations in the second year. This role also supports the coordination of Year 2 Foundations of Practice courses.

The Program Coordinator has the expertise and advising ability to help future and continuing students navigate through policies and procedures to ensure a positive student experience. This position deals with complex advising issues at all levels of the curriculum. There is a high volume of work with peak periods during recruitment, admission, registration and beginning/end of term; therefore, efficient time management skills are critical in order to ensure that all deadlines are met.

The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate Year 2 clinical rotations and related processes within the MPAS program, ensuring effective delivery and support of the Year 2 clinical curriculum.

The Program Coordinator supports the Clerkship Lead in implementing clinical placement processes, systems, and guidelines for the MPAS program. This includes contributing to changes in business processes, workflow procedures, and information-sharing practices. The incumbent provides expert guidance to rotation site stakeholders on program guidelines, processes, and protocols related to clinical placements

Ability to work outside of regular work hours when required. The regular workweek schedule is Monday to Friday (0800-1600) with occasional variances in start and end time. The Program Coordinator may be expected to attend events or provide service outside normal working hours.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Clinical & Experiential Learning:

• Supports and coordinates all clinical and experiential learning activities within the MPAS program, including first-year clinical experiences (e.g., shadowing) and second-year clinical rotations and assessments. The coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for these activities
• Support the Clerkship Lead in ensuring that current/active practicum agreements are in place for all non-AHS agencies in advance of students commencing rotations at the site, and initiates the renewal process with key individuals at external agencies, when required
• Collaborates with key contacts/departments at AHS and other external sites to identify prerequisite requirements for each site/unit, identifying when changes in requirements have been made. Implements procedures for new requirements and creates strong business processes which ensure
• Monitors students’ clinical rotation progression, schedules regular meetings with the Clerkship Lead and Assistant Clerkship Lead, and documents all relevant updates, concerns, and communications while promptly escalating any potential risks or issues
• Provides support for additional Year 2 curriculum activities, including the Year 1 to Year 2 Transition Impact Week, Year 2 End-of-Rotation examinations, and Year 2 Foundations of Practice courses

Program Tasks & Admissions:

• Provide information and resources to prospective and continuing students via email, virtually, and in person
• Provide preliminary individualized guidance for Year 2 students about leaves of absence, unsuccessful coursework, reappraisal of graded term work, and program withdrawals
• Support admission file review process, with the utmost accuracy and timeliness, to verify application completeness and ensure applicants meet basic requirements to be further considered for admissions

Other Responsibilities:

• Provide support for Year 1 activities as needed during periods of high workload or staff absence, including assistance with OSCE coordination, quizzes, assessments, and other related academic and administrative activities
• Undertake additional projects as assigned by the Medical Director, Assistant Director(s), Clerkship Leads or the Program Manager

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Education, Business, Health/Science) is required
• A minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of progressive experience in coordinating educational programs and experiential learning, preferably supporting health professions education programs and clinical rotations
• Strong time management, project management, organizational skills, and written communication skills
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to understand and accurately disseminate information regarding processes, guidelines and procedures related to clinical placements
• Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills with a proven ability to adapt quickly to effectively changing priorities
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive) is essential, with a strong ability to adapt quickly to new technology.
• Experience with MedSIS is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment
• High degree of judgment, discretion, and ethics
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and be resourceful, creative and innovative
• Knowledge of the University’s culture, policies, and practices is preferred

Application Deadline: May 28, 2026

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 2.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii’ taa’poh’to’p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university’s commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.