(PA) Research Physician Assistant - 137916

The Research Physician Assistant (PA) at the UC San Diego Center for Brain Health and Memory Disorders is an advanced clinical research and clinical care provider who supports interdisciplinary work in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. In the brain health and memory clinic, the PA evaluates patients, develops care plans, and tailors management strategies to support well-being.

Under the supervision of an attending neurologist, the Research Physician Assistant evaluates diagnostic and laboratory findings, including blood tests, MRI, CT, PET, and other diagnostic tests, as well as performs injections and related technical procedures. The PA develops appropriate treatment plans by prescribing medications and supportive therapies. The PA then implements and adapts care strategies by performing comprehensive neurological examinations, reviewing current medication regimens and potential interactions, interpreting diagnostic results, and communicating care plans with patients, care partners, and primary and specialty health care teams.

Research responsibilities begin with identifying candidates for clinical research and therapeutic trials. The PA helps families understand research by clearly explaining available opportunities and may conduct screenings and specialized clinical and cognitive evaluations. Technical duties include collecting biomarkers and performing protocol-specific procedures such as lumbar punctures and skin biopsies, along with completing required documentation. The PA contributes to case conferences and consensus diagnoses. Returns biomarker and imaging results to participants and care partners, provides clear education about the findings, and makes referrals for follow-up care, supportive services, or specialty clinical or research evaluations as needed. Performs other duties assigned.

• Must be a graduate from a physician assistant program approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

• California Physician Assistant (PA) license.

• Current PA Certification from NCCPA.

• BLS certification at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six months of hire date.

• Must have at least six (6+) months of relevant clinical patient-facing experience. Training or work experience in Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or neurology is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, comfort working with older adults and families, and the ability to translate complex scientific and clinical concepts into understandable language.

• Strong clinical judgment, attention to detail, and effective collaboration within a multidisciplinary academic research environment are essential.

• Two (2+) or more years of experience as a licensed Physician Assistant in a related setting.

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English, including the ability to conduct clinical interviews, informed consent discussions, return biomarker results, and deliver participant education in both languages with accuracy, sensitivity, and cultural competence.

• Must be willing to work flexible, variable hours with the ability to change schedule on short notice.

• May require occasional evening and weekend hours beyond the normal workday.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• Must be able to obtain UCSD Medical Staff privileges and maintain during employment. Due to advanced practice credentialing eligibility, clinical advanced practice experience must be within the last two years, gained through school or work experience.

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace