Job Opportunities

Are you looking to take your career to new heights with a leader in healthcare? SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading metropolitan medical centers. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we serve a large population that is among the most diverse in the world. We are also highly-ranked by Castle Connolly Medical, a healthcare rating company for consumers, among the top 5 leading U.S. medical schools for training doctors.

Bargaining Unit:

UUP

Job Summary:

The Occupational Therapy Program in the School of Health Professions at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full-time Assistant Professor (HS). 

The Assistant Professor 12-month position has the primary responsibility of coordinating Level-I Fieldwork Placements for students in the Master's Degree program, ensuring a sufficient number of fieldwork site agreements are in place. Additional responsibilities include teaching graduate courses in the Master's (MS) and Post-Professional Degree programs (PP-OTO) each semester, as well as engaging in service and research activities.

Additional Key Responsibilities

• Fieldwork Coordination & Compliance:
  • Collaborate with the Level II Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Program Chair on all aspects of fieldwork education to ensure compliance with ACOTE standards.
  • Provide orientation, guidance, and support to students and fieldwork supervisors, serving as a liaison between the program, clinical sites, and community partners.
  • Initiate and maintain strong working relationships with fieldwork sites, conducting site visits to ensure quality and alignment with program standards.
  • Develop and manage the fieldwork database systems and maintain all required documentation and reports for accreditation.
  • Develop, host, and assist with trainings for fieldwork educators, students, and faculty.
  • Provide consultation and coordinate the resolution of any difficulties that may arise for students, faculty, or fieldwork educators.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to fieldwork education.
  • Support the tracking of individual student performance data to meet accreditation requirements.
  • Assist the Program Chair in creating a system for regular evaluation of the fieldwork program's efficacy and overall functionality.
• Teaching:
  • Prepare for and teach graduate courses (didactic, lab/experiential, clinical) each semester, as
  • assigned by the Program Chair, within the MS and PP-OTO programs.
  • Manage all aspects of course delivery, including grading, use of the learning management system, and developing and updating course materials, syllabi, and lesson plans.
  • Provide guidance and leadership to students through academic advisement, mentorship, and supervision of capstone projects.
• Professional Engagement & Service:
  • Maintain an in-person presence on campus, ensuring active participation in the academic community and fostering relationships with students and faculty.
  • Actively participate in committee, department, college, and university meetings as approved by the Program Director.
  • Contribute to ongoing curriculum development, program evaluation, and ACOTE accreditation activities.
  • Maintain regular approved office hours.
  • Demonstrate strong inter-professional and communication skills to collaborate effectively with faculty and allied health colleagues on developing interdisciplinary projects.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate Degree (PhD, OTO, EdD, Dr.PH, DHSc, or other relevant doctoral-level degree) awarded by an institution accredited by a USDE-recognized regional accrediting body.
• New York State Occupational Therapy Licensure.
• 8+ years of occupational therapy practice, specializing in pediatrics, with experience in supervising Level I and/or Level II students.
• Demonstrated evidence of 3 years of teaching graduate occupational therapy courses.
• Active NBCOT certification and AOTA membership.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills and computer proficiency.
• Excellent networking, verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to academic excellence, scholarship, and professional growth.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, and colleagues across disciplines.
• Proficiency using Learning Management Systems (LMS).
• Knowledge of ACOTE B and C standards and current trends in occupational therapy.
• Established record of scholarship/research activity including manuscript preparation, conference presentations, student thesis mentorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated evidence of teaching graduate-level anatomy and kinesiology.

Work Schedule:

Variable Days; Variable Hours (Full-Time)

Salary Grade/Rank:

Salary Range:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Executive Order:

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation.  If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact Human Resources at ada@downstate.edu