Bridge Pathway Manager

Department Overview

The Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACoE) works to sustainably address the health care needs of all people by increasing AIAN representation in the health professions workforce via culturally informed, evidence-based health education programming designed for Indigenous healthcare learners, students, and professionals. NNACoE sits within the Department of Family Medicine and is an institution-wide resource for AI/AN students and faculty. With an annual operating budget of $3 million from federal grants, foundations, and institutional commitments, NNACoE’s twelve (12) study initiatives span five (5) critical points along the education continuum, beginning as early as middle school and continuing through early faculty development.

NNACoE includes 24 research team members comprised of clinicians, faculty, and staff housed across OHSU. Since NNACoE’s founding in 2017, the number of AIAN medical students at OHSU has more than tripled, making OHSU home to one of the highest concentrations of AIAN medical students in the country. NNACoE has developed robust partnerships with Tribes, Native-serving organizations, regional universities, and with tribes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, and Alaska. Once focused only on OHSU Medicine, NNACoE now builds pathway programs in Schools of Dentistry and Nursing, and provides consultation on recruitment, training, and retention of AI/ANs in Pharmacy and Public Health. In addition to being an OHSU-wide resource for AI/ANs, NNACoE serves AI/AN students and academic clinical faculty nationally.

The Bridge Pathway Manager will provide continuity of support to AI/ANs moving between key educational points along the path into health professions training. They will 1) Lead and direct OHSU’s annual Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) for college-level AI/AN students interested in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Pharmacy 2) Manage AI/AN admissions strategies for the Center in collaboration with NNACoE leadership; and 3) Manage and advise campus-wide AI/AN retention efforts and alumni engagement and tracking across all NNACoE initiatives.

Function/Duties of Position

Lead and direct OHSU’s annual Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) for college-level AI/AN students interested in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Pharmacy.

• In partnership with NNACoE and national SHPEP leadership, develop, manage and launch an annual SHPEP program at OHSU, developing a policy manual for future program sites; assemble and lead planning team, develop curriculum; identify faculty, staff, and students to teach courses, manage SHPEP budget; identify and coordinate student support strategies needed for SHPEP including housing, health coverage, meals, and other in-person campus resources;
• In partnership with NNACoE’s Outreach & Recruitment team research and implement strategies for regional and national AI/AN recruitment; lead and represent OHSU’s SHPEP at conferences, events, colleges, regional and national fairs, tribes and Native serving organizations;
• Implement annual summer program; lead and manage in-person logistics for the entirety of the program, assemble and manage implementation team; troubleshoot campus, develop and implement best practices from participant feedback, and event and participant logistics;
• Engage with Tribal Colleges and Universities, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Tribal health systems, Indian Health Service and other relevant constituents to inform approach and model for future program sites; identify and build relationships with potential advisory committee members for future site selection processes; and
• Serve as an ambassador of OHSU and SOM, representing the message, team, and work of OHSU NNACoE nationwide.
  
  

Manage AI/AN admissions strategies for the Center in collaboration with NNACoE leadership.

• Work directly with Assistant Dean of Admissions for OHSU School of Medicine toward the achievement of shared goals; work closely with SOM admissions on AI/AN recruitment to UME, GME, and Wy’east Post-Baccalaureate Pathway;
• Advise and consult on OHSU Nursing and Dentistry admissions strategies via Wy’east expansion efforts;
• Identify and strategize around AI/AN student and faculty retention issues campus-wide; be an active member of a learning community of AI/AN Admissions strategies with Deans at partner institutions; and
• Manage Wy’east Medicine admissions activities alongside SOM admissions, including applicant screening, candidate interviews, and scholar selection.
  
  

Manage Wy’east scholar support and retention in partnership with Wy’east team

• In collaboration with the Wy’east Assistant Director, review sensitive and/or urgent issues regarding Wy’east Scholars, discuss and strategize about the solutions and resources that exist at OHSU to aid scholars; and advocate for scholars with OHSU leadership and campus-wide support services;
• Serve as the point of contact, and oversee the assessment and completion of, emergency funding requests for Wy’east scholars and AI/AN learners campus-wide;
• Serve as advocate and mentor for Wy’east scholars and offer continued support for OHSU eligible resources as they fulfill their matriculation;
• Work with Wy’east leadership to advise and consult with academic leadership at partner schools of medicine (WSU, UCD) on continuity of support to (1) non-matriculating alumni, and (2) matriculated alumni at all admitting institutions;
• Work with Wy’east scholars to expeditiously complete onboarding paperwork and activities required by OHSU; and
• Under direction of Wy’east Assistant Director, co-create Wy’east Manual of Operations and Procedures (MOP) to streamline cross-site post-baccalaureate implementation and implementation to other schools and colleges at OHSU (Nursing, Dentistry).
  
  

Build and maintain relationships with Tribal Health Scholars (THS) alumni as they grow their identities as future healers

• Advise and consult on THS alumni engagement strategies and assessing support needed; and strategize other engagement efforts to maintain long-term communication and connections with alumni;
• Build relationships with each active THS cohort through attending virtual sessions and presenting on early college opportunities to advance their learning and continue to pursue health professions training; and
• Maintain relationships with THS alumni in order to connect them with early college opportunities to advance their learning and continue to pursue health professions training, including OHSU’s SHPEP.
  
  

Scientific Project Management

• Work closely with NNACoE’s Evaluation Council and AAMC to comprehensively evaluate SHPEP program and participant learning, adapting to better serve the needs of AI/AN college students interested in being healers and to meet research study goals and objectives; disseminate to academic and community partners nationwide with guidance from Evaluation Council;
• Track alumni within NNACoE’s relational database and in collaboration with AAMC SHPEP database to better understand current AI/AN learner relationships and alumni trajectories nationally; collaboratively strategize with NNACoE team on ways to improve alumni relationships and engagement;
• In collaboration with Wy’east Assistant Director, develop and implement strategies for streamlining cross-institutional data collection, sharing, and management for OHSU Wy’east Pathway and expansion sites;
• Develop grant proposal and reporting documents in collaboration with NNACoE leadership;
• Prepare manuscripts and support poster and presentation development; and
• Present at national meetings; lead/oversee poster development; support other dissemination efforts.
  
  

Logistics management

• Plan and execute recurring and one-time NNACoE events as needed for AI/AN learners campus-wide as needed; Prepare meeting materials reserve rooms/venues, and work with OHSU partners to coordinate AV and remote connection support; and
• Work with Department of Family Medicine’s Special Projects Administration team to request and track purchases, participant travel, and reimbursements related to SHPEP program.
  
  

Other Duties As Assigned

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree AND (3) years of relevant experience
  
  

OR

• Bachelor's degree with (5) years of relevant training and experience
• This team member must have basic knowledge and experience working with American Indians/Alaska Natives, organizations, and/or communities.
• Experience supporting or mentoring underrepresented students.
• Proven ability to function autonomously and exercise judgement with occasional supervision, especially related to identifying and implementing solutions
• Demonstrated effective time management skills, especially with competing priorities
• Demonstrated outstanding verbal and written communication skills while interacting with diverse and collaborators in a variety of settings (University leadership, faculty, community members, tribes and tribal organizations, youth, volunteers).
• Proven ability to take initiative and work independently as well as in a team-based structure
• Intermediate computer knowledge and skills using MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).
• Must have strong organizational skills and be very detail oriented. Must be able to respond quickly to time sensitive tasks.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, counseling, public health, social work, or STEM discipline with (5) years of relevant experience.
• Prior experience in student services, recruitment and retention, pathway programs and/or summer programs for underrepresented students in STEM.
• Experience supporting or mentoring American Indians/Alaska Natives.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse collaborators in a variety of settings (University leadership, faculty, community members, tribes and tribal organizations, youth, volunteers).
• Experience managing student workers, interns, volunteers, and/or other program staff.
  
  

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.