Career Center

Clinical Skills Training Specialist
College of Veterinary Medicine
Clinical Skills Learning Center

Primary Position Function /Summary
The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine (vetmed.illinois.edu) is seeking an individual with experience in professional student education to fill a Clinical Skills Training Specialist position at the Clinical Skills Learning Center (CSLC). The CSLC is responsible for teaching technical skills relevant to clinical practice to 1st and 2nd year DVM students, prior to their entry into pre-clinical wet labs and senior year clinical rotations.

The Clinical Skills Training Specialist will work closely with the CSLC Director and Manager, other content experts, and course/rotation coordinators to develop, coordinate, implement and evaluate pre-clinical model- and simulation-based education in the College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, the successful applicant will participate in logistical planning, setting up and assessing students in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) portion of Milestone Exams 1 and 2, as well as provide remedial coaching and retesting for students. The Clinical Skills Training Specialist will also interact with clinical faculty, testing and running scenarios, assuring that faculty and equipment are set up for teaching sessions, and producing instructional videos. The ideal candidate will have recent clinical veterinary practice experience and bring ‘real world’ expertise and perspectives to CSLC instructional activities.

Duties and Responsibilities
Simulation-based Coaching and Training, 65%
• Coordinate core rotations, affiliate training, veterinary technician training.
• Set up and clean up teaching activities including task trainers, manikins, and cadaver specimens.
• Implement, facilitate, and debrief simulation-based learning and assessment activities as assigned, including the use of live animals, high and low fidelity medical manikins, task trainers, and cadaver parts.
• Use simulations, models, manikins and/or live animals to instruct and assess professional students on large and small animal care, such as: low-stress restraint techniques; collection of blood, urine and feces; common and routine tests on blood, urine, and feces; aseptic preparation of patient for surgery; aseptic preparation of surgeon for surgery; administration of gas anesthesia; suture patterns; accurate calculation and administration of medications and fluids; insertion, security and maintenance of IV catheters; wound care and bandaging; general physical examination of small and/or large animal patients.
• Conduct simulation exercises for canine Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support, including positive and negative patient outcomes and effective client communication.
• Conduct and participate in communication scenario simulations including pre-briefing, role-play, and debriefing.
• Participate in the revision or development of new case scenarios to improve simulation training.
• Identify opportunities for improvement, innovation and development of initiatives for the integration of simulation in clinical education and curriculum at all levels in the College and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, 15%
• Collaborate in the planning, set-up, and clean-up of our Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) for second- and third-year students.
• Participate in training assessors and standardized clients for the OSCEs.
• Assist in the quality assurance of scripts and assessment tools for OSCE stations
• Facilitate timely grading of OSCEs
• Provide remedial coaching and retesting to students on OSCE stations as indicated by OSCE scores

Educational Support Services, 15%
• Maintain an archive of simulation cases and set-up guides to ensure the most current information is available.
• Create, update and maintain shared electronic documents, reference documents, learning guides, peer and self-assessment checklists, SOPs, and other paper and electronic documents accessed by Clinical Skills Learning Center staff and students.
• Shoot and edit short instructional videos that demonstrate skills on models, manikins, and task trainers.
• Create and organize content in the online Learning Management Systems.
• Develop assessments to be used formatively by students during rotations.
• Support the collection of data for ongoing research projects in the scholarship of teaching and learning.
• Maintain current in simulation education through the review of relevant journals, abstracts, and scientific literature in existing and emerging simulation technologies, including underlying educational principles.
• Assist and communicate with Laboratory Manager on general maintenance of the facilities and equipment, including the need to order supplies.
• Assist and participate in fabrication of consumable components of models and task trainers.

Other Duties, 5%
• Participate in events providing exposure and insight to the program
• Conduct facility tours
• Develop ideas for outreach to stakeholders and new audiences
• Other tasks as assigned

Requirements
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent required.
• Three (3) years of experience in a clinical veterinary practice experience required.
• Five (5) or more years of experience in a clinical veterinary practice is preferred.
• Large animal experience preferred.

Environmental Demands
The handling of any animal always will present some element of risk or injury. Persons allergic to animal dander may experience discomfort in this position. The handling of anesthetic waste gases and other biological materials will be required and may present risk if protocols are not properly followed. Physical requirements include the ability to restrain and handle animals, and to lift items and animals up to 40 lbs. An ability to work in the presence of animal waste and fluids will be necessary. To some degree, unpleasantness may be experienced under such conditions. Model making may expose the individual to chemicals which may be potentially hazardous if mishandled or misused.

Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 9-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after close of position. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Salary
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on December 1, 2023 Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Valerie Eaton at veaton@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.