Founding Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (Search Extended)

Moravian College invites applications and nominations for the position of Founding Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Reporting to The Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Founding Program Director is responsible for the overall planning, direction and management of the DPT program. The Founding Program Director will be a visionary and experienced leader who will serve as the first Program Director of Moravian’s DPT program, currently under development. Working with the Provost, Dean of the School of Natural and Health Sciences and the department chair, the Founding Program Director will lead the development of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, oversee the CAPTE accreditation process, coordinate daily operations, as well as maintain ongoing collaboration with faculty to cultivate excellence in research, teaching, and service.  In doing so, the Founding Program Director will ensure this new program will prosper as an integral part of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences mission at Moravian College. The Founding Program Director will have teaching responsibilities as well.

The dynamic and growing partnership with St. Luke’s University Hospital Health Network (a seven hospital system with over 200 sites) offers exceptional opportunities for clinical collaboration.  Moravian College is experiencing significant growth in health profession programs to complement its well-established nursing program, with newly developed public health and athletic training programs, and developing occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and physical therapy programs. A new health science center is under construction and the college has newly renovated the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center in partnership with St. Luke’s. Moravian College is committed to preparing students to meet the health care needs of the community.

The ideal candidate will be committed to building an interdisciplinary program in Physical Therapy that will share curricular content with graduate programs in Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology, reflecting and resonating with Moravian College's deep and abiding commitment to the liberal arts.

Institution Overview:

Moravian College is a private liberal arts college located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region. The College traces its founding to 1742 by Moravians, descendants of followers of the Bohemian Reformation (John Amos Comenius), the 17th century Moravian bishop.  Moravian College currently enrolls ~1750 full-time undergraduate students in a wide variety of majors, all of which are presented in the liberal arts tradition. Moravian College also offers graduate programs in business, education, nursing, and athletic training, as well as four graduate degree programs at Moravian Theological Seminary.

HISTORIC BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA – HOME OF MORAVIAN COLLEGE:

Bethlehem is a city of 75,000 people in eastern Pennsylvania - a city known for its rich colonial and industrial history. Today, Bethlehem is experiencing an economic and cultural renaissance promising a future as bright as the city's past. 

From pre-colonial buildings to rooms where the Constitution was written, Bethlehem, Pa., is steeped in history. And while it was founded some 275 years ago, this town has reinvented itself over and over again. Today, there’s a booming arts district, high-end restaurants, quirky shops, and even a 90-foot Bethlehem Star on South Mountain.

A SMALL CITY WITH BIG HEART:

The town, rooted in its rich history founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1741, has continued to grow as a revolutionary community. From the beginning the town hosted 35 industries featuring water works, tanneries, and grain mills. In 1899, Bethlehem Steel was established becoming the center of heavy industry and trade, producing the steel for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Since then the town has glamorously transformed into a hub for dining, shopping and nightlife.

Moravian College’s two campuses book end a one mile-stretch of Bethlehem’s Main Street, where vintage stores, art galleries, and local olive oil and chocolate purveyors share the street with inns and buildings that have roots as deep as our country’s beginning. With a variety of different restaurants, Bethlehem provides an assortment of tastes and styles. During the winter and summer months the town hosts restaurant weeks, where community members can enjoy lunch and dinner menus at affordable prices.  

Bethlehem is a constantly-evolving blend of culture and commerce, progress and preservation. The town always has something going on. Guests can enjoy the highly acclaimed, annual Bach Festival. Bagpipe with the best at the Celtic Classic.  Enjoy fantastic tunes at the truly epic nine-day Musikfest, which, as one of the largest music festivals in the nation, draws a million visitors each August.  Join the more than 5,000 people that descend upon our city for the College’s annual Christmas Vespers service in Central Moravian Church in December. Take a snowy carriage ride among the lit-up trees while you enjoy the holiday music that’s piped in throughout the streets. And if you can’t find your way home, look up into the mountains for the Bethlehem Star.

LEHIGH VALLEY: THIRD LARGEST POPULATION HUB IN PENNSYLVANIA:

Bethlehem lies at the heart of the Lehigh Valley.  Together with Allentown and Easton it forms the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, home to nearly three-quarters of a million people and eight colleges and universities. Visit DiscoverLehighValley.com for a wider look at what the Lehigh Valley has to offer.

The Founding Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Position Overview:

The College seeks a dynamic and committed leader to inspire the next stages of Moravian College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.  This interdisciplinary program will share course content across all the disciplines within the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.  The successful candidate should meet the following qualifications: 

• An academic terminal degree in Physical Therapy or related field (required - PhD, EdD or DSc) from a regionally accredited body recognized by the US Department of Education
• A licensed physical therapist eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania
• Experience preparing for, obtaining and maintaining CAPTE accreditation
• At least five years of experience in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the post-secondary level
• Administrative experience (including program planning and implementation, personnel management, evaluation and budgeting)
• A strong record of scholarship and distinguished history of teaching and service
• 6 years of full time higher education experience and a minimum of 3 years full-time experience in a physical therapist education program
• ABPTS Specialty Certification preferred
• Knowledge in technological support and delivery of programs and services
• Demonstrated success in collaborating with colleagues in a variety of academic disciplines
• Passion for the liberal arts
• Ability to multi-task

All correspondence relating to the position of Founding Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Moravian College should be directed in confidence to the College’s executive recruitment consultants:

Mr. Christopher S. Healy, Vice President

Scott Healy & Associates

chris@scotthealy.com

The full and complete application must contain the following information and be submitted electronically: 

1) A cover letter outlining your experience in Physical Therapy and/or related fields in higher education. Special attention will be paid to those applicants who have started, developed, and/or expanded a Master's or Doctoral program in physical therapy or a health related field.

2) A complete resume outlining your career in higher education and within health related areas.

3) The names of five professional references including their relationship to you, their position, email, and direct phone numbers.  References will not be contacted without written permission.

Applications submitted by August 21, will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled. Moravian College is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity.