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JOB DESCRIPTION

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 

Position Title: Director of Learning Sciences Program in the Department of Surgery

Department/Section: Surgery

Reports To (Position Title): Vice Chair of Education and Chairman of the Department of Surgery

Expectations for All Employees:  Supports the organization’s Code of Excellence and Values by exhibiting the following behaviors:  Integrity, Respect, Compassion, Excellence, Stewardship and Community.

Age Specific Care Requirements:  N/A

Position Summary: 

The Department of Surgery at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has embraced a goal of international recognition for innovative learning strategies that foster the acquisition of skills and knowledge.   Current initiatives include developing surgical residents as educators; improving the lecture experience through flipped classroom, simulation, and team based learning; and enhancing the intraoperative teaching experience.

We are seeking a Director of Learning Sciences to help develop and implement a strategy that creates and sustains a community of learners to meet this goal.  A background in medical education is not essential. In the process of this endeavor, the Director would work with our clinical education faculty and students to foster and promote opportunities for interactive learning, including networked learning and team-based learning, as well as to support active learning by providing multi-modal learning opportunities.  It is anticipated that Director would provide guidance on effective teaching and learning strategies, particularly with regard to educational technologies. We seek a leader who can develop relationships across Harvard University (Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Business School, as well as Harvard Medical School’s Office of Global Programs, Center for Educational Technology, and Department of Continuing Education).

Reporting directly to the Vice Chair of Education and Chairman of the Department of Surgery, the Director or Learning Sciences is responsible to assess needs, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate educational activities, including those directed at Harvard medical students, surgical residents, and postgraduate continuing medical education.  The position will focus on the application of state of the art and emerging instructional technology related to online and classroom learning, intraoperative learning, including both instructional design and assessment..  This position will work closely with faculty from different divisions and will also work collaboratively with a range of departmental offices focused on research programs and faculty development and promotion.  The position may also interact with faculty in the Learning Technologies Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and across the University as needed.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Resident and Medical Student Education:

1. Implement and evaluate rotation specific (synchronous) educational activities and instructional technology to improve learning outcomes related to acquisition of technical skills and enhanced clinical decision making.
2. Apply state of the art and emerging instructional technology to improve quality and content of asynchronous didactic lectures and assess impact of these initiatives. Research and test instructional technologies.
3. Guide the usage synchronous and asynchronous delivery technologies.
4. Create / assist in the creation of course-related digital content
5. Advise faculty on technology components of multimedia assignments and provide troubleshooting to students on multimedia projects.
6. Assist faculty in design and deliver highest quality education, including use of instructional technology and coaching sessions on teaching and learning, as needed.
7. Contribute to consultations with community regarding meeting pedagogical challenges through the thoughtful and appropriate use of technology.
8. Collaborate with faculty to improve intraoperative teaching experience and assess impact of these initiatives with and without the application of instructional technology in the operating room setting.
9. Initiate a program to enhance the capacity of surgical residents to serve as educators for fellow residents and medical students through curriculum design directed at small group discussion and case method teaching.  In the process, it is anticipated that resident presentation skills will be enhanced and residents will acquire skills in teaching through application of simulation and educational technology.

 

Postgraduate Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Collaborate with faculty to develop innovative CME offerings, such as traditional courses, online programs, and other postgraduate education that generates income for the department

 

Other

1. Consult on preparation of grant proposals and manuscripts in surgical education.

2. Assist in the design and evaluation of resident, fellow, and faculty education research projects.

 

Qualifications/Skills & Knowledge Requirements:

The appropriate candidate for this position will have 5+ years of experience in education with a minimum of a MA degree. A Masters in Educational Technology is strongly preferred.  The ideal candidate should have excellent computer, writing, communication, and organizational skills, and be able to manage a multitude of tasks and meet deadlines.  Candidate needs to be proficient with MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint and needs to be adept using web-based applications.

 

Supervisory/Management Responsibility:

Responsibilities may include managing Harvard Presidential Instructional Technology Fellows, as well as an administrative assistant who will also be responsible for supporting the surgical faculty Harvard Medical School promotions process and other faculty professional development initiatives.