Medical Student Mental Health Counselor & Academic Coach

Position Overview:
This position functions as a core team member within the Office of Learner Development, providing short-term mental health counseling (75%) and specialized academic coaching (25%) for medical students across the Twin Cities and Saint Cloud campuses. Reporting to the Director (a Licensed Psychologist), the incumbent exercises day-to-day functional independence while operating under the administrative and clinical oversight of the Director. High-stakes clinical decisions, crisis protocols, and note reviews are executed in mandatory consultation with the Director.

Note: This position is designed for pre-licensed, Master's-level clinicians tracking toward independent board licensure (LGSW, LAMFT, LPC). It does not provide the training or documentation framework required for licensure as a Licensed Psychologist (LP).

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

50%: Clinical Counseling & Case Consultation

• Short-Term Therapy: Deliver short-term, evidence-based individual counseling (CBT, brief assessment) to medical students experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, and transitional adjustments.
• Clinical Consultation: Participate in regular, structured case consultations and clinical note reviews with the Director to optimize student care strategies and departmental alignment.
• Caseload Management: Manage clinical intakes, execute brief counseling models, and coordinate warm hand-offs to external, long-term counseling resources when necessary.
• Telehealth Care: Provide secure telehealth services and targeted in-person care to support medical students navigating regional clinical rotations.

10%: Crisis Intervention & Risk Management

• Crisis Triage: Serve as a primary point of contact for student mental health crises, conducting real-time risk assessments for acute distress, suicidal ideation, or panic.
• Crisis Escalation: Develop immediate safety plans and coordinate vertical care escalations to University clinics or emergency services in active consultation with the Director.
• Acute Stress Support: Provide immediate processing support for non-emergency training trauma unique to medical environments (e.g., experiencing a first patient death).

20%: Specialized Academic Coaching

• Performance Assessments: Assess students' specific learning needs, cognitive roadblocks, and executive functioning capacities within an accelerated medical curriculum.
• Study Planning: Co-create individualized study blueprints focusing on high-yield test methodologies, advanced time management, and complex knowledge organization.
• Board Prep: Partner with the Medical School's Learning Specialist and Director to provide expert coaching and strategic preparation for milestone USMLE Step examinations.

10%: Documentation, Quality Assurance, & Analytics

• Clinical Documentation: Maintain meticulous, timely, and objective clinical records within a secure Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in strict compliance with state privacy laws.
• Quality Review: Submit clinical documentation regularly for administrative audit and signing by the Director to maintain compliance and continuity of care.
• Data Tracking: Anonymize and track tracking statistics regarding academic interventions to evaluate program efficacy and report outcomes to leadership.

10%: Co-curricular planning and cross-functional support

• Co-curricular course refinements and delivery: Partner with colleagues to co-design, refine and facilitate workshops centered on mental health resources, stress management, study skill development, and preventative wellness.
• Cross-Functional Support: Communicate basic status updates to faculty, course coordinators, and student services staff as directed; route all complex faculty or advocacy issues directly to the Director.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS plus at least two years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least six years.
• Licensure Status: Current, active graduate-level mental health licensure (pre-licensure) in Minnesota, actively tracking toward independent clinical board licensure (e.g., LGSW, LAMFT, or LPC)
• Clinical Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience providing direct mental health counseling, therapy, or crisis triage services (applicable advanced practicum/internship hours accepted).
• Higher Education Support: Minimum of 2 years of experience working with adult learners within a higher education, graduate, or professional school framework.
• DEI Commitment: Proven experience delivering culturally responsive, equity-minded support to individuals from diverse backgrounds and historically underrepresented student populations.
• Technical Proficiency: High proficiency utilizing secure Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems alongside standard office suites (Google Workspace, MS Office).

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), Marriage and Family Therapy (MA/MS), Counseling (MA/MS), or a closely related mental health field.
• Medical Education Expertise: Direct experience navigating the competitive academic cultures and clinical rotation demands of medical school environments.
• Advanced Learning Skills: Background in cognitive learning strategies, executive function coaching, or administering peer tutoring infrastructure.
• Standardized Exam Familiarity: Practical familiarity with the formats and unique student stressors associated with USMLE and NBME examinations.
• Licensure at Master's level or LPC.

Key Competencies

• Clinical Ethics: Uncompromising commitment to student confidentiality (HIPAA/FERPA) and active engagement in clinical case consultations with leadership.
• Crisis Resilience: Capacity to project profound empathy while maintaining solid professional boundaries and emotional resilience during high-stakes student challenges.
• Collaborative Mindset: Proven ability to integrate seamlessly into a multi-disciplinary team environment spanning Learner Development, Student Affairs, and Curriculum offices.
• Inclusivity & Humility: Demonstrated ability to work across groups with diverse identities and lived experiences, aligned with the mission to serve rural and urban communities.

Committed to innovation and diversity, the Medical School educates physicians, scientists, and health professionals; generates knowledge and treatments; and cares for patients and communities with compassion and respect. We value excellence, inclusiveness, collaboration, and discovery.

The mission of the regional campus located in Duluth is to be a national leader in improving healthcare access and outcomes in rural Minnesota and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. In partnership with CentraCare, the regional campus in St. Cloud offers a wide range of patient experiences throughout students' education in Greater Minnesota and prepares them to become exceptional clinicians and leaders for rural and immigrant populations.

Founded in 1888, the University of Minnesota Medical School has three campuses. A four-year MD program and the MD/PhD program are located on the Twin Cities campus in addition to MD programs at regional campuses in Duluth and St. Cloud.

Pay Range: $38.46-$43.27 per hour (64,000-72,000 annually) depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 80% Appointment, 32 hours a week

Work Location: Hybrid

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.