Department Chair

Overview

The Department of Physical Therapy at High Point University invites applications for the full-time 12-month Department Chair, Program Director, and faculty position at the Associate or Full Professor rank. The Department of Physical Therapy is one of five key departments in the Congdon School of Health Sciences (CSHS), housed in the state-of-the-art, $120 million Congdon Hall on High Point University’s main campus.

Established in 2017, the HPU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has achieved rapid national distinction, currently ranked in the top 33% by U.S. News & World Report. Demonstrating exceptional administrative and academic rigor, the program recently received a "clean report" with CAPTE reaccreditation reaffirmed for a full 10-year cycle. This represents the best possible outcome for any DPT program and ensures a stable foundation for the incoming Chair.

The Chair oversees two elite research facilities that bridge the gap between scholarship and clinical application: the Human Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratory and the Virtual Reality Clinical Gait Analysis Lab, which serve as collaborative hubs for innovation and impact. The Department of Physical Therapy offers a unique dual-practice environment. Faculty and students have the opportunity to engage with patients through both a cash-based outpatient clinic and our full-time Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic.

The Chair is the administrative head of the Department and is responsible for the effective operation of all aspects of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This includes oversight of academic activities in teaching, scholarship, and clinical education; management of departmental business, personnel, and financial operations; and leadership of strategic planning aligned with the mission and priorities of the Department, School, and University.

The Chair serves as Program Director and has primary responsibility for accreditation compliance and continuous program improvement. To ensure effective operations and strategic growth, the Chair is supported by a robust leadership team, including the Director of Clinical Education, Director of Students, Director of Curriculum, Director of Outcomes, and Director of Research. The Chair regularly interfaces across the institution, with professional organizations, clinical education partners, advisory boards, and relevant regulatory and accreditation bodies.

The Chair directly supervises all core faculty and provides leadership for department staff and affiliated faculty. The Chair reports directly to the Dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences.

In addition to administrative responsibilities, the Chair serves as a core faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy. Core faculty are responsible for delivery of the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum, student advising and mentorship, scholarly activity appropriate to rank, and service to the Department, School, University, and profession. Faculty operate under a differential workload model, with responsibilities allocated across teaching, scholarship, administration, service, and clinical engagement, as appropriate.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong academic and administrative leadership, a commitment to excellence in physical therapy education, a collaborative and collegial leadership style, and the ability to advance the strategic vision, accreditation standing, and national profile of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Applications should include the following items, submitted as a single document: (i) a cover letter addressing the applicant’s qualifications and vision for the department (1-2 pages), (ii) curriculum vitae, (iii) a statement of teaching philosophy (1 page), and (iv) a statement of research interests (1 page). For more information regarding this position, please contact Dr. Kevin Ford, Dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences, at kford

At High Point University, the faculty and staff are devoted to ensuring every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. High Point University is a God, family, and country school.

Education

• Ph.D. or other equivalent academic doctorate.

Experience and Training

• Current physical therapy license and/or eligibility for licensure in the state of North Carolina (required)
• Minimum of six years of full-time higher education experience, with a minimum of three years of full-time experience as a core faculty member in a CAPTE accredited entry-level DPT program (required)
• History of leadership position(s) in DPT education program (preferred)
• History of scholarship and active research agenda (required)
• Service or leadership with national level APTA, ACAPT, FSBPT committees (preferred)

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Required:
  
  Strong leadership skills (required)
• Required:
  
  Strong communication and interpersonal skills (required)
• Required:
  
  Values teamwork, collaboration, self-awareness, and humility…