Assistant/Associate Professor of Optometry

Assistant/Associate Professor of Optometry As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture. At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies, a parade of pets in campus parks, student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement, and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others. Job Summary To teach in didactic courses, pre‑clinical laboratories, and participate in clinical education programs, specific duties to be assigned. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of special emphasis within optometric scope of practice and its application to clinical optometry. Skilled in reviewing and understanding scientific literature related to area of special emphasis. Able to lecture on topics of expertise related to area of special emphasis. Able to publish scholarly papers on topics of expertise, especially related to area of special emphasis. Able to provide clinical care to patients and clinical education to students and residents. Able to interact and communicate in an effective manner with individuals of diverse backgrounds, including students, staff, faculty, administration and outside constituents. Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism. Required Qualifications Doctor of Optometry Degree required. Licensure to practice in California or the ability to obtain California licensure within 3 months of employment. 1–3 years’ experience in didactic education, and/or clinical practice, and/or completion of an accredited optometric residency program. Preferred Qualifications Additional credentials, such as PhD or other doctoral degree, master’s degree, or LPSE certification is strongly preferred. Key Responsibilities Teaching: Teach in various learning environments including didactic lecture, laboratory, and clinical settings. Support students in developing the knowledge base, critical thinking, and/or clinical skills necessary for success in clinical patient practice and licensure examinations. Scholarly Activity: Create and disseminate new information by publishing articles, presenting posters, and/or peer‑reviewed scientific presentations of relevance to the profession of optometry and optometric education. Seek outside funding support for a variety of scholarly projects. Research: Engage in research aligned with areas of expertise, with the goal of securing external funding and advancing a sustainable research agenda. Service: Serve on various committees within the College of Optometry, the University, the profession of optometry, and/or other professional organizations. Performs other duties as assigned. The University/College reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. Clinical/Professional Practice: Provide patient care, either directly or with student interns, at the WesternU Health Eye Care Institute and at WesternU affiliated sites as assigned by the college. Work Schedule Exempt Position – Typical working hours are 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday. Some nights and weekends required. Physical Demands The essential functions of this job require lifting up to 10 pounds and involve using hands to operate a PC, grasp laboratory objects, talk, hear, sit, reach with hands and arms, stand, walk, stoop, and occasionally smell. Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work Environment Duties are normally performed in a typical clinical setting, laboratory, or environmentally controlled interior healthcare setting. The environment may involve exposure to potentially dangerous materials, such as blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, toxic substances, and risk of electric shock. Clinical environments require compliance with safety precautions and may include the use of personal protective equipment. Noise level is usually moderate due to telephone calls, office/exam equipment, patient/student interactions, and normal traffic. Conditions of Employment – Background Check To secure employment, successful fulfillment of a background check, including a criminal records check, may be required. Western University of Health Sciences will extend a conditional offer of employment, subject to rescission if the background check unveils disqualifying information or if it is found that the candidate deliberately withheld or misrepresented information. Non‑completion of the background check to satisfaction may impact the ongoing employment of a current Western University of Health Sciences employee who received a conditional offer for the position. Pay Transparency Act Western University of Health Sciences is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range considers various factors in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Expected Pay Scale is defined as the budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO) Western University of Health Sciences provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within WesternU including without limitation, hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoffs, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. WesternU makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merits, and business needs at the time. #J-18808-Ljbffr