Learning and Development Specialist

Department/Unit:

Medical Education

Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)

Salary Range:

$64,972.00 - $97,458.00

Job Description Summary
The Learning Specialist will provide academic support to Albany Medical College students and residents. The Learning Specialist will evaluate and provide advice on study skills, time management, test-taking strategy, and managing test anxiety. Students and residents may request academic assistance or be referred when they experience academic difficulties as measured on course examinations, in-training examinations, licensing examinations and clinical performance evaluations.

MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Masters Degree, PhD preferred

•  3 years’ experience in higher education student support positions

• Experience in graduate level higher education preferred

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a documented ability to interact with Staff, Students and Faculty

• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize complex tasks

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Appointed by the Dean of the Albany Medical College/Executive Vice President for Health Affairs of the Albany Medical Center, upon advice and consent of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Albany Medical College

• Reports to the Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education

• Represents the Albany Medical College at the Albany Medical Center level or outside the College and Center at the request of the Vice Dean for Academic Administration

POSITION SUMMARY

The Learning Specialist will provide academic support to Albany Medical College students and residents.  The Learning Specialist will evaluate and provide advice on study skills, time management, test-taking strategy, and managing test anxiety. Students and residents may request academic assistance or be referred when they experience academic difficulties as measured on course examinations, in-training examinations, licensing examinations and clinical performance evaluations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Learning Specialist is based in the Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center. The Learning Specialist will design and implement academic support services and learning resource programs for medical and graduate students and residents in all years of training. The Learning Specialist will work with the learner and the appropriate people from the learner’s program (advising dean, the assistant dean for years 1&2/3&4, residency program director, graduate director.)   The Learning Specialist will coordinate academic support and remediation planning for students and residents, align support programs and services with accreditation and curriculum requirements, track student outcomes, and identify academic interventions to support student success. The Learning Specialist will refer students who may require Neuropsychiatric testing, psychiatric evaluation, or psychological counseling to the appropriate professional.

DUTIES

• Meet with students during orientation to proactively assess skills, potential weaknesses, and optimize performance in the curriculum.

• Develop and implement required workshops for students in the areas of Time Management, Effective Study Strategies, Examination Preparation and Performance

• Coordinate academic support services and programs for all USMLE Step exams, and other exams required for students.

• Work with faculty in the medical and graduate programs to design an early identification process for “at-risk” students

• Collaborate with academic faculty to provide faculty resources and support for student remediation needs.

• Represent academic support services at meetings, seminars or conferences, such as Northeast Group on Educational Affairs or other professional societies addressing student success. Continuing education and knowledge of current trends, student needs, and innovative support services is important to meeting the needs of medical and graduate students and residents.

• Evaluate and recommend the purchase of supplemental learning resources for medical students, graduate students, and residents

• Coordination and oversight for the learning resources budget, annual planning for learning resource needs and program costs and appropriate tracking of expenses throughout the year.

WHY THIS POSITION IS NEEDED
 

Students require support and assistance to successfully meet the academic requirements. It is an accreditation requirement of LCME to provide academic support to medical students.

Timely communication and responsiveness to student needs and questions is critically important to this position. Students meet academic standards to achieve educational and career goals.

Assisting students who experience academic difficulties and challenges will support student improvement within the curriculum.

Assisting students in developing a plan to address and/or remediate academic difficulties will support students in remaining “on track” within the academic program.

Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System!​

Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:

Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.