POOL: Standardized Patient

University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kansas School of Pharmacy is seeking Standardized Patients to portray patients, family members, or clinical team members for student learning and assessment. You may be interviewed, counseled, or physically examined and will provide feedback on communication and interpersonal skills.

SPs work on an as-needed basis with advance notice during the academic year. Hours vary; occasional work only, not a regular schedule. Prior SP or related experience is preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Experience in education or portraying an assumed role (e.g., SP work, teaching, theater, public speaking).
• Strong reading and writing skills as evidenced by application materials.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with learners and staff.

Responsibilities

• Simulate all aspects of scenarios with learners in a standardized, accurate manner.
• Observe and document learner actions during encounters.
• Represent specific patient roles and guide learner reflections after sessions.
• Lead participants to reflect on encounters using a student-reflective interview technique.
• Perform other duties as assigned (e.g., administrative tasks, quality assurance).

Skills

Communication skills

Reading & writing

Interpersonal skills

Public speaking

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Job description

Position Overview

A \"Standardized Patient\" (SP) within the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy (KU SOP) is a person who has been trained to portray all of the characteristics of a real patient, family member, or clinical team member in order to provide an opportunity for a pharmacy student to learn, or be evaluated, on clinical skill performance. During teaching or assessment activities SPs may be interviewed, counseled, or physically examined (examples include blood pressure assessments, foot exams, simulated finger sticks for blood testing) by students as part of the learning environment. Additionally SPs lead student reflections after the encounters and are trained to provide verbal and/or written feedback, especially with regard to communication and interpersonal skills. SPs may be audio or videotaped during simulation.

The Performance Assessment Program of the School of Pharmacy needs an available applicant pool of persons from a wide range of backgrounds who are selected for specified cases. SPs will work on an as-needed basis with advance notice during the academic year. Number of hours will vary by assignment and programmatic needs. Those seeking regularly scheduled part-time work should note that this position will work \"occasionally\" and not consistently. The work is not weekly and would not compare favorably in total annual hours with regular part-time work.

Job Description

The following duties and responsibilities are all essential job functions, as defined by the ADA, except for those that begin with the word \"may\". The basic function of a Standardized Patient is to simulate medical scenarios or cases with students/learners in teaching and assessment activities. SPs will be instructed and trained by an assigned SP Trainer for a given project. During teaching or assessment activities SPs should expect that the learner may interview, counsel and/or physically examine them.

• Simulate all aspects of scenarios, including history of current problem, affect/behavior and physical findings, in a standardized, accurate, and reliable manner
• Work in a professional manner when interacting with learners, faculty, simulation specialists, supervisors and peers
• Be comfortable having repeated physical examination maneuvers performed on self, such as blood pressure measurements
• Accurately recall and document aspects of learner performance
• Provide feedback to learners and colleagues in a constructive manner
• Accurately and consistently complete communication and/or skill checklists
• Objectively interact with and rate examinees of all backgrounds
• Accept ongoing feedback from facilitators and incorporate into case simulation
• Be willing to follow rules and procedures for the exam
• Be willing to be audio and videotaped during simulations
• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with KU SOP personnel
• Able to work independently, after suitable training and onboarding
• Responsibly maintain own schedule - reliability and punctuality are essential
• Respond in a timely manner to communications from KU personnel

• 30% - Observe and document learner actions in staged professional encounters
• 30% - Represent specific patient or health care roles
• 30% - Lead participants to reflect on encounters using a student-reflective interview technique
• 10% - Other duties as assigned (e.g. administrative assistance, quality assurance, floor managing)

Position Requirements

1. Able to offer availability and be willing to work a varied schedule including mornings, afternoons and early evenings.
2. Have daily access to a computer for email and a willingness to use it regularly to communicate with the program.
3. Willingness to portray another person effectively and consistently in a standardized way.
4. Comfortable having repeated physical examination maneuvers performed on self.

Required Qualifications

1. Experience in the field of education or portraying an assumed role (e.g., previous SP work, former faculty, performed in theater productions, public speaking, teaching, related volunteer experiences, training or instructing adult learners, etc.).
2. High School Diploma or equivalent.
3. Strong reading and writing skills to absorb and use the detailed case training and exam procedural information as evidenced by application materials.
4. Strong communication and interpersonal skills when interacting with learners and other employees as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Previous Standardized Patient experience
2. Direct teaching or counseling experience
3. Completion of a Bachelors Degree from an accredited university or college

Contact Information to Applicants

Andrea Reynolds
[e-mail]

Advertised Salary Range

21.95/hr

Application Review Begins

Monday September 28, 2026

Anticipated Start Date

Monday October 5, 2026