Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor: Family Medicine (Family Physician) (P003826) at North West University

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• To facilitate the clinical skills of MBChB students in the foundational and intermediate phases, through the delivery of clinical skills teaching, simulation-based education and assessment within the clinical skills and simulation laboratory and the Clinical Training Platform.
• This position involves integrating theory into clinical practice and the coherent integration of clinical skills across all themes in the MBChB programme.
• This position requires embedding medical clinical skills and competence in the MBChB curriculum, including the planning and equipping of the clinical skills and simulation unit, and coordinating clinical skills teaching and training in the clinical training platform as follows: year 1 in households and communities, year 2 in Primary Health Care facilities and year 3 in Potchefstroom Hospital.
• Therefore, this position is also responsible for engaging with the Clinical Training Platform, training stakeholders on the Platform, and ensuring the appropriate assessment of clinical skills in the foundational and intermediate phases.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Teaching and Learning

• Facilitate clinical skills training for undergraduate medical students using simulation equipment and authentic patients.

Simulation-based education 

• Develop and deliver simulation scenarios that support clinical reasoning, teamwork and patient safety training.

Student Assessment 

• Conduct OSCE and OSPE assessments and other types of assessments of clinical competence.

Clinical skills curriculum support 

• Support the curriculum development and integration of clinical skills across the first three years of the MBChB programme.

Professional role modelling

• Mentor students in professionalism, communication and patient centred care.

Research and Innovation

• Activation of a research career related to clinical medicine and/or scholarship of teaching-learning (SoTL) research, by performing own research, research dissemination, study supervision and/or enrolment for further higher degrees.

Ad hoc clinical work

• Support the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine in ad hoc clinical work.

Minimum requirements

• A Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) or equivalent (NQF level 8).
• An MMed / FCFP in Family Medicine (NQF level 9).
• Registration with the HPCSA as a Family Physician.
• Eligibility to practice clinically in South Africa as a Family Physician.
• 1 – 2-years clinical practice experience - independent clinical practice as a Family Physician.
• 1 – 2-years health system experience - understanding the public health system and patient care pathways across primary care, district and regional levels in the JB Marks Municipality.

ADDED ADVANTAGES:

• A postgraduate qualification in Health Professions Education (NQF level 7).
• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) or equivalent recognised by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
• Minimum of 1 – 2-years clinical teaching experience - teaching and mentoring medical students and interns.
• Minimum of 1 – 2-years simulation-based education experience - participation in simulation-based training activities.
• Minimum of 1 – 2-years student assessment experience - participation in OSCEs, workplace-based assessments.
• Ability to start with a research career in/or clinical medicine or record of research activities.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Comprehensive knowledge of general medical practice, including common acute and chronic conditions, patient assessment and management relevant to undergraduate clinical training.
• Ability to teach and demonstrate core clinical skills, including patient history-taking, physical examination, procedural techniques, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical decision-making.
• Ability to facilitate simulation exercises using clinical mannequins, task trainers and standardised patients to support experiential learning.
• Knowledge of structured assessment methods, including OSCEs, workplace-based assessments and formative clinical skills evaluations.
• Competence in teaching basic clinical procedures, including venepuncture, intravenous cannulation, airway management, suturing, wound care, and basic emergency interventions.
• Ability to facilitate small-group teaching sessions, provide constructive feedback and support reflective learning among medical students.
• Basic understanding of simulation equipment, audiovisual recording systems and digital platforms used in clinical skills training.
• Knowledge of patient safety principles, clinical governance and safe practice standards relevant to medical training.
• Understanding of the South African public health system, referral pathways and service delivery context in which graduates will practise.
• Ability to maintain accurate records of teaching activities, student assessments and training outcomes.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrates ethical conduct, respect for patients and colleagues, and adherence to professional standards expected of medical practitioners.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, academic staff, healthcare professionals and patients.
• Commitment to supporting student learning, development and wellbeing in a safe and inclusive educational environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with academic staff, clinicians, simulation technicians and administrative personnel.
• Willingness to adopt new teaching approaches, educational technologies and simulation methodologies.
• Ability to serve as a role model for professional behaviour and guide students in the development of clinical competence and professional identity.
• Ability to respond effectively to unexpected teaching or simulation challenges and adapt training activities accordingly.
• Demonstrates ongoing engagement in professional learning related to clinical practice and medical education.

Apply by: 21 August 2026