The College of Physicians of Philadelphia (the “College”) is a key convener for medical and public health professionals in the Greater Philadelphia region. Founded in 1787 to “lessen human misery,” it is one of the oldest professional organizations in the country, with over 1,100 active Fellows. The College is home to the Mütter Museum, the Historical Medical Library, and the Centers for Public Health and Education. Today, we improve the lives of individuals, communities, and society by challenging our understanding of health and well-being. With support from our distinguished Fellows, the College inspires action through education and public engagement.
Through the Mütter Museum, Historical Medical Library, and Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden, we serve the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond, sharing complicated and inspiring stories of medicine and public health through robust collections of rare books, archives, historical objects, and biological specimens. Explore the complex histories of medicine, engage in dialogue about well-being, and expand your understanding of the human body with us.
Position Summary
The Senior Director of Interpretation and Engagement (the “Senior Director”) leads the team in providing a variety of services to enhance the experience of the Mütter Museum & Historical Medical Library as a critical center for the understanding of medicine and public health, accomplished through engaging audiences with dynamic interpretation of its collections and utilizing the expertise of College Fellows and staff. The position provides management and strategic oversight to ensure that galleries, special exhibitions, and displays, as well as educational and community programs, fulfill the College’s mission and strategic goals , including the Mütter Museum, Historical Medical Library, and Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden. A strategic and collaborative leader, this position will build academic opportunities, artist partnerships and student and community engagement experiences to motivate learning for visitors of all ages.
Reporting to the Executive Director, Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library (the “Executive Director”), the Senior Director structures and manages all interpretation and community engagement initiatives related to the physical and intellectual collections of the College, and works collaboratively with staff, stakeholders, and College Fellows. The Senor Director is a key member of the Museum & Library’s senior management team, promoting the core values and priorities of the College. This position executes strategy and guides pedagogy across all areas of public education, community engagement, interpretation and programming, artistic collaboration, and visitor experience. This work unfolds across multiple physical locations on campus, including spaces at 19 S. 22nd Street and 2129 Chestnut Street, as well as off-site and online program development.
The Senior Director communicates the value of informal learning as fundamental to the College’s vision to “advance the cause of health while upholding the ideals and heritage of medicine.” The position promotes the access and understanding of the College, Museum, Library, and Garden collections and fosters trust in with its local and regional communities (including pre-K-12 schools) in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Leveraging the expertise and Collections and Research Department, as well as the knowledge of College Fellows, the Senior Director expands the narratives of public health and medicine into exhibition and program experiences that center belonging and allow for multiple perspectives and outcomes. The position proactively contributes to the College’s efforts to create a thriving and well-resourced institutional culture that supports people, with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
The Senior Director develops the long-range scope and creative plan of dynamic exhibitions, community and educational programs including group and school tours, develops and implements strategic policies and procedures, establishes and manages departmental workloads, guides the development and design processes for special exhibitions and community programs, manages divisional and individual exhibition and program budgets, collaborates on grant proposals, and represents the Museum and Library’s interpretation and engagement activities nationally and internationally. Read more