How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Job Summary
The Office of Medical Student Education (OMSE) seeks a Student Affairs Counselor & Advisor. The candidate will provide holistic academic counseling, developmental guidance, and non-evaluative support to promote medical student academic success, resilience, and wellbeing. The successful candidate will deliver individual counseling on academic performance, systems resources, and stress management, while guiding students through curriculum progression, residency preparation, and key transitions. Additionally, the candidate will lead programmatic strategies and continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives?managing program operations, evaluating student outcome data, and collaborating across OMSE units to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
This position reports to the Director of Student Affairs, and works closely with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and unit personnel.
Responsibilities*
Academic Counseling
Academic counseling is the process between the medical student and an academic counselor to discuss academic difficulties and to help the medical student acquire more effective and efficient abilities in areas such as study skills, reading skills, and/or test-taking skills.
Use UMMS Competencies to guide developmental conversations (professionalism, communication, self-directed learning).
Collaborate with OMSE units and campus partners to help students navigate systems and resources.
Support students during transitions such as curricular changes, LOAs and RLOAs.
Maintain ethical practice, confidentiality, and clear role boundaries.
Support personal meaning-making related to professional identity development.
Provide individual counseling related to academic performance, professionalism, wellness, and personal concerns affecting academic performance.
Offer reflective space to process experiences and promote coping and resilience.
Respond to periods of acute distress and assist with short-term stabilization and planning.
Advise on and report issues related to mistreatment in academic environments.
Provide a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for all medical students.
Provide confidential personal support around stress, burnout, adjustment, relationships, and identity formation.
Serve as trusted, non-evaluative points of contact for students navigating medical training.
Support goal-setting, reflection, and student advocacy within institutional policies.
Consult at a systems or de-identified level to inform wellness initiatives.
Academic Advising
Academic advising is the process between the medical student and an academic advisor of reviewing the services and policies of the institution, discussing educational and career plans, and making appropriate course selections.
Provide academic advising on curriculum, milestones, degree progression, and graduation requirements.
Assist students in interpreting feedback and developing academic or improvement plans.
Support career exploration, residency preparation, residency application services, and interviews.
Advise on leaves of absence, schedule planning, schedule changes and transitions.
Coordinate with faculty on academic advising.
Provide general guidance on Step 1 and Step 2 planning.
Coordinate with all Student Affairs units to appropriately and accurately advise students on effective supports and planning options.
Program Management
Partner with departments such as Financial Aid, Registration, Evaluation & Assessment, Trunk, and Branches to improve overall OMSE function
Participate in committees and meetings (e.g., Competency Committees, COS, STOC, CTOC, Student Council).
Lead CQUI efforts of the Counseling/Advising unit, such as:
Analyze student trends and outcome data to identify areas for program improvement.
Develop reports and recommendations regarding student success, wellness, and advising outcomes.
Assess effectiveness of counseling and advising initiatives.
Manage and evaluate advising and counseling programs serving medical students.
Develop, implement, and assess initiatives that support student academic success and wellness.
Monitor program outcomes and recommend improvements.
Coordinate program operations and ensure alignment with institutional goals.
Provide consultation and guidance to faculty regarding student advising concerns.
Lead coordination of counseling and advising initiatives across the medical education continuum.
Required Qualifications*
1. MA in Counseling, Advising or related field
2. Four or more years experience in post-secondary advising and/ or counseling.
3. Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication skills, both written and verbal.
4. Proven ability in managing sensitive and complex student situations with discretion, empathy, and confidentiality.
5. Excellent organizational and administrative skills, including working knowledge of relevant programs and software.
6. Knowledge of mandatory reporting and relevant civil rights guidelines desired.
Why Join Michigan Medicine?
Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world?s most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.
What Benefits can you Look Forward to?
- Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
- 2:1 Match on retirement savings
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Onsite Expectations:
This is a hybrid position requiring onsite presence to meet regularly with students, faculty, and staff. Onsite work will average 2?3 days per week, though some weeks may require more time (3-5 days) depending on scheduled Office of Medical Student Education programs and events.
Union Affiliation
This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the University Staff United (USU), which represents bargaining unit members in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.