Standardized Patients - Physician Assistant Program

Oakland University; Rochester Hills, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

Oakland University is seeking Standardized Patients for the Physician Assistant Program. SPs portray patients, family members, or caregivers to support simulator-based instruction and OSCEs.

No prior acting or healthcare experience is required unless specified for a particular activity. Open Date: 09/02/2026. Open Until Filled: Yes. Oakland University is an Equal Opportunity institution.

Qualifications

• Reliable and punctual for scheduled session blocks (sessions may run several hours).
• Strong memory and ability to understand, retain, and reproduce detailed scripted material.
• Comfortable with physical touch involved in clinical examinations (e.g., palpation, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff).
• Professionalism and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Portray patients and scenarios in structured clinical encounters (OSCEs).
• Assist in developing learners’ communication, assessment, clinical reasoning, and interpersonal skills by participating in simulations.

Skills

Reliable and punctual

Strong memory

Comfortable with physical examination

Ability to take direction and provide

Confidentiality and professionalism

Job description

Standardized Patients - Physician Assistant Program

Job Title: Standardized Patients - Physician Assistant Program

Job Description Summary:

Standardized Patients (SPs) are trained individuals who portray patients, family members, or caregivers in a consistent, believable, and repeatable manner for the purpose of teaching and evaluating health-care learners. SPs assist in developing learners’ communication, assessment, clinical reasoning, and interpersonal skills by participating in structured clinical encounters in a simulated environment. This role is central to the program’s simulation-based instruction and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).

SPs are trained to accurately reproduce an assigned case’s history, symptoms, emotional state, behaviors, and physical findings. No prior acting or healthcare experience is required unless specified for a particular activity.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Reliable and punctual; able to commit to scheduled session blocks (sessions may run several hours).
• Strong memory and ability to understand, retain, and consistently reproduce detailed scripted material.
• Comfortable with physical touch involved in clinical examinations (e.g., palpation, use of stethoscope, blood pressure cuff).
• Comfortable with repeated clinical examinations that are non-invasive and trained for safety.
• Comfortable receiving coaching/direction from faculty and modifying portrayal based on feedback.
• Comfortable giving structured feedback to students from the “patient’s perspective”
• Professionalism and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications include:

• Prior experience as a standardized/simulated patient, actor, educator, healthcare worker, or clinical simulation participant
• Comfort portraying emotionally complex scenarios (grief, anxiety, chronic illness) when applicable.
• Experience providing constructive, structured feedback

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Oakland University Standard Language

Oakland University is a nationally recognized doctoral university of high research activity located on 1,443 acres of scenic land in the cities of Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills in Oakland County, Michigan. The University has 142 bachelor’s degree programs and 138 graduate degree and certificate programs. Academics include programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Education and Human Services, School of Engineering and Computer Science, School of Health Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Nursing. As an anchor institution in southeastern Michigan, Oakland University is committed to building ongoing and collaborative relationships with the surrounding communities. Community and civic engagement enhances the lives of our students and has a positive impact on our broader community.

Open Date:

Open Date: 09/02/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Job Category:

Job Category: Part-time Faculty

EEO Statement:

Oakland University is an Equal Opportunity institution.

371 Wilson Boulevard, Rochester, MI 48309

248-370-2100