Standardized Patient Educator

The Standardized Patient (SP) Educator is responsible for the recruitment, training, development, quality assurance, scheduling support, and performance evaluation of SPs who participate in educational activities within the School of Medicine Simulation and Clinical Skills Center. The SP Educator collaborates with faculty, course directors, simulation staff, and curriculum leadership to ensure standardized patient encounters are educationally effective, realistic, reliable, and aligned with curricular objectives.

This position plays a critical role in preparing SPs to accurately portray patient cases, deliver constructive learner feedback, complete assessment instruments, and maintain consistency across formative teaching and high-stakes assessment activities such asObjective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

The ideal candidate is passionate about healthcare education, training and development, simulation methodology, quality improvement, and creating exceptional learning experiences for future healthcare professionals.

SP Recruitment

• Partner withprogram leadershiptoidentifyrecruitment needs and ensureadequatepool of qualifiedSPsfor educational programs.

• Recruit, interview, onboard, and orient newSPs.

• Maintain accurate SP rosters, including SP availability, experience, special skills, training history, and participation in educational activities.

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to attract and retain a diverse pool of Standardized Patients through professional networking, community outreach, conferences, partnerships, and other engagement opportunities.

SP Training

• Prepare and revise SPguidelines,training documents,patient scripts,orientation materials,and othereducational resources in alignment with curricular goals.

• Leadinitial and ongoing SP training sessions for a range of educational activities, including patient portrayals, physical examination encounters, ultrasound experiences, and OSCEs.

• Coach and mentorSPsduringlearneractivities to ensure accurate, consistent, and realistic case portrayals.

• Train SPs to provide effective learner assessments and constructive feedback.

• Maintain competency records and continuing education documentation for SPs.

• Work with faculty tooptimizeSP training sessions, including planning agenda,facilitatingsessions, and interfacing between faculty and SPs.

Quality Improvement

• Maintain and contribute toprogramstrategic planningandcontinuing quality improvement initiatives for the SP program.

• Developand implementevaluation processes to ensureSPs demonstratestandardizationacross multiple learner encounters.

• Design and administersurveys related to SPand learnerexperiences, providing feedback on training and other internal processes.

• Collect, review, analyze, and disseminate surveydatatoprogramleadership to support continuous improvement initiatives.

• Utilize data, stakeholder feedback, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for program enhancement and operational effectiveness.

• Monitor live and recorded SP encounters foraccuratecase portrayals consistent with overarching curriculum goals andobjectives.

• Work withprogram leadershipto ensure standards ofbest practices in SPmethodologyare fully implemented.

• Maintainexpertisein SPmethodologythrough active participation in annual conferences,national organizations,continuing education opportunities,andnetworkingwith the SP community.

Program Support

• Partner with programleadershipto manage SP performance issues, providing coaching, documentation, and recommended disciplinary action asappropriate.

• Assist with CSC management software, audiovisual recording, and scheduling platforms.

• Support budget planning related to SP-basededucation.

• Provide SP scheduling and operational support during educational sessions as needed.

• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of medical terminology.

• Excellent communication andwriting skills.

• Experience working with Microsoft365 applications, scheduling systems, databases, and learning technologies.

• Willingness to adopt new technology.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare, Nursing,Education,Communication, Film/Theatre, Psychology, ora related field.

• Prior experience insimulation or standardized patient educationand training may be accepted in lieu or as equivalent to an Bachelors'Degree. (Preferred Associate'sDegreein healthcare-related fieldor theater).

Preferred:

• Experience in healthcare simulation, medical education, standardized patient methodology, training and development, adult learning, educational program coordination, or curriculum support.

• Experience facilitating training, coaching, teaching, or performance development programs.