Careers

The staff pathologist directly reports to the Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. Scope of practice includes full range of Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Blood Banking, Immunology, Serology, Microbiology testing, Phlebotomy, and Anatomic Pathology which includes Surgical Pathology, Cytology, and Autopsy Services. Testing not performed on site is provided by VA reference laboratories and private reference laboratories under contract. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Licensure: Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Language: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Board Certification in Pathology Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 2 hours); Light and moderate lifting (up to 44 lbs.) light to moderate carrying (up to 44 lbs); straight pulling and pushing, reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and 20/100 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Duties include but aren't limited to:\n1. The AP/CP pathologist is ultimately responsible for diagnostic interpretation of specimens processed within the laboratory.\n2. Describing, dissecting, sampling and reviewing gross specimens.\n3. Processing and interpretation of intraoperative frozen sections.\n4. Providing intraoperative and intra-procedural consultation as requested.\n5. Interpretation/sign-out of surgical pathology specimens within CAP guidelines for turnaround time.\n6. Interpretation/sign-out of cytology specimens.\n7. Ordering/interpretation of appropriate immuno-histochemical stains and special stains.\n8. Interpretation and sign-out of peripheral smears submitted for pathologist review.\n9. Participating in multi-disciplinary conferences such as Cancer Conference and Transfusion Committee.\n10. Participating in Quality Assurance measures including 10% retrospective review of all anatomic pathology cases and inter-laboratory comparison programs as designated by Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.\n11. Serving on various hospital committees including peer review as necessary.\n12. Serving as medical director of one or more Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).\n13. Providing 24 hour on-call services.\n14. Reviewing hematology fluids and issue diagnostic interpretation.\n15. Participating in minimum required continuing medical education (CME) in order to maintain licensure/privileges.\n16. Responsible for timely completion of VA assigned TMS educational modules.\n17. Responsible for diagnostic expertise and sign-out in any area for which sub-specialty fellowship training has been completed\n18. Participation in educational/competency programs mandated by the National Enforcement Office. Work Schedule: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Monday through Friday"]