The posting
The School of Optometry seeks a full-time faculty member to deliver high quality learning experiences and education for students in the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) program. The faculty member will engage in teaching, service and scholarship activities, and works collaboratively with colleagues across the University as well as with the Dean of the School of Optometry. Additionally, the incumbent provides mentorship to students and contributes to the visibility, impact and reputation of the University and its programs through research and scholarly engagement. The selected candidate will have responsibilities teaching classroom, laboratory and clinical experiential courses to professional students in the O.D. program. Subject matters may include Contact Lenses, Ocular Surface Disorders, Optometric Theory and Methods, as well as clinical supervision in the Contact Lens and Dry Eye services of the School of Optometry’s Eye and Vision Center. Rank and salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
- Deliver didactic, laboratory and clinical experiential instruction in the Doctor of Optometry degree program.
- Provide students with an approved syllabus that includes course objectives and learning outcomes, teaching methodology, attendance policies in line with those of the School, texts and readings, assignments and deliverables, timelines and evaluation criteria.
- Provide engaging assignments that demonstrate the real-world applications of concepts covered.
- Precept students in the care of patients in the clinics of the School’s Eye and Vision Center and affiliated Community Health Center eye services, and be responsible for grading and assessing students’ clinical performance.
- Clinical faculty may be required to travel to external clinical sites, generally near the Worcester campus.
- Participate in service activities; serve on committees; serve on regional, state, or national organization committees and volunteer activities; represent the program and University in/at community functions; attend School and institutional activities such as Commencement and ceremonies; and support student activities such as health fairs and service projects.
- Participate in research and scholarship resulting in conference presentations, publishable manuscripts, peer-reviewed instructional materials, or other outcomes consistent with expectations for scholarly activities described in the Faculty Manual.
- Use the University’s learning management system to post syllabus, assignments and other materials and to communicate with students.
- Advise and assist students through office hours or scheduled appointments, by phone or email, and through other University-approved mechanisms.
- Provide service including student mentoring, ongoing course development, and course assessment as assigned.
- Participate in the board exam preparation of students and recent graduates, including the generation and deployment of our internal comprehensive assessment exam.
- Contribute to periodic reviews and revisions of departmental course offerings.
- Attend and participate in monthly School and Department meetings, University ceremonies, and other major events, and serves as a member of University, School and/or Department committees, as assigned.
- Maintain advanced knowledge in discipline and areas of expertise.
- Build and maintain relationships with professional organizations involved with the healthcare sector.
- Additional responsibilities may be assigned by the supervisor.
Required:
- Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from an ACOE-accredited institution.
- Completion of an accredited optometric residency or fellowship program, preferably in the area of Contact Lenses, or a minimum of three (3) years of clinical experience at the professional level.
- Must be a licensed optometrist in Massachusetts and hold a Controlled Substance Registration in Massachusetts, or be willing to be licensed in Massachusetts if currently out of state.
- Will be expected to have, or seek active candidacy for, Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry. Additionally, fellowship in the Scleral Lens Education Society is desirable.
- Experience and expertise in prescribing all current modalities of contact lenses including but not limited to soft, specialty soft, gas permeable corneal, specialty gas permeable, scleral, Ortho-K and myopia control lenses. Experience in the care of dry eye patients.
- Record of scholarly activities commensurate with an academic appointment.
- Evidence of classroom and clinical teaching excellence based upon reviews from students and evaluations from academic and clinical supervisors.
- Commitment to graduate professional education and student success.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate collegially with a variety of professionals within the University or clinical setting.
- Must be able to work independently and effectively interact with a wide array of parties at all levels (students, faculty, administration/staff, alumni, and external constituents, including healthcare industry executives).
Physical Requirement:
- Typical office or administrative working conditions. Faculty member is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
- Work requires sitting, standing and walking as part of classroom and clinical instruction.
- Must be able to use technology, such as typing and manipulating a mouse/mouse pad, and using clinical instrumentation.
