Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer

Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine

At Benedictine College (proposed)

“For I have come to bring fire upon the earth”.

-Luke 12:49

Catholic Healthcare International, an Apostolate of the Catholic Church, seeks an exceptional and faithful Catholic/Orthodox academic physician leader for the position of Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine, at Benedictine College (proposed).  Focused on the preparation of faithful physicians to evangelize the Good News of Jesus Christ, the not-for-profit, independent, Catholic medical school, under the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, is proposed to open in the Fall of 2026 and will be located in a new 120,000 square foot facility on the campus of Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.  Benedictine College is one of the nation’s most faithful Catholic colleges and will provide the medical students and faculty with a spiritual home and center of faith.  The medical school curriculum will include substantial coursework in Catholic bioethics and medical theology, at the graduate level.  Students will be required to participate in a spiritual development program that will also be open to faculty and staff.  Clinical education will be conducted in a national Christian clinical network of faithful preceptors and hospital systems, including the Franciscan Alliance and OSF Healthcare.

More information about the medical school is at the CHI website: https://www.chi-usa.com/chi-initiatives/catholic-medical-school/.

Mission statement of the medical school:

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sanctii, The Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine, educates osteopathic physicians, in a faithful Catholic framework, to treat the sick, relieve suffering, and thereby evangelize the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The school is adherent to Ex Corde Ecclesiae and dedicated to the formation of men and women in the intellectual and moral values of the Catholic faith.

All senior leadership must be in good standing and full communion with the Catholic/Orthodox Church.  All faculty and staff are required to sign and maintain a mandatum.  Nominations and expressions of interest should be directed to gmychaskiw@CHI-USA.com.  Applicants should include a letter or interest/summary of qualifications, a statement of understanding of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, CV and five references.  References will not be contacted without prior permission.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  The Founding Dean is expected to start, full-time, no later than May 20, 2023.

The Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine is an independent, separately licensed, accredited, governed and financed entity that will reside on the campus of Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.  It is not part of Benedictine College.  The Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine is proposed and seeking accreditation.  It is not yet licensed or accredited by any organization and does not have permission to recruit or solicit students, make offers of admission, or begin instruction, and nothing in this specification should be construed as such.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. An earned DO degree from a COCA-accredited college of Osteopathic Medicine.
2. An unrestricted medical license at some time in his/her career, free from disciplinary actions or sanctions while licensed.
3. AOA or ABMS board certification at some time in his/her career.
4. At least five years of proven experience, within the last ten years, in academic leadership roles that includes budget management authority.
5. Must be Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, in good standing and full communion with the Church.
6. A passion for faithful, authentic and traditional Catholic/Orthodox higher education. Outstanding written and spoken communication skills, the ability to set a vision and build a team of champions to educate future generations of faithful physicians.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Previous experience in the senior management of a college of osteopathic medicine, including previous experience as Dean.
2. Experience in start-up and developing institutions of higher education, particularly in medicine, other health professions and faith-based institutions.
3. Experience and familiarity with the accreditation processes of the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, other accreditors and state license authorities.
4. Experience in clinical medical student and resident education, familiarity with ACGME accreditation and residency development processes.