This position is located within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center.. The Pathology Specialist/Assistant is an allied health professional, qualified by academic and practical training to assist in providing technical and administrative assistance, oversight and coordination of all services in Anatomic Pathology. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Performs all elements of gross examination and sectioning of every type of surgical pathology specimens. Cuts specimens to preset optimal specimen detection for microscopic examination, pathologic diagnosis and cancer staging. Ensures test analysis, equipment and specimen examinations are at acceptable levels. Performs autopsies, with or without an autopsy assistant, upon review of the medical record, correlation of the gross pathology with the patient's clinical presentation, preparation of external and internal descriptions. Removes and dissects visceral organs, brain and spinal cord in order to demonstrate the presence or absence of disease and/or atomic variation. Prepares frozen tissue sections and other tissue sections within or outside of the histology department. Provides description of tissue received from surgery (includes noting size, color, consistency and anatomic orientation). Develops and/or revises standard operating procedures and establishing performance standards to improve or extend test systems. Evaluates, modifies or adapts new methods to meet the requirements of particular testing situations. Oversees the morgue for adherence to facility and regulatory safety, quality control and privacy regulations. Maintains regulatory compliance related to his/her duties on a daily basis. Reviews regulatory criteria, ensuring all procedures and protocols are maintained up to date with regulatory criteria. Prepares work areas for inspection, and participates in the inspection process as required. Plays a central role in the education and training of residents in pathology, other medical specialties, and medical students, regarding the practice of Anatomic Pathology and Autopsy. Provides instruction at the bench and through discussion of relevant topics. Evaluates, selects, organizes, and adapts educational, training, and resource materials for teaching programs. Creates special study rotations to introduce new technologies and processes. Constructs learning modules for pathology residents and other trainees. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Requirements

Qualifications

All applicants must meet the BASIC REQUIREMENT: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university in a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a Pathology Specialist. NOTE: You must submit copies of transcripts at the time of application. Education will not be credited without documentation. Please ensure that your transcripts show that a degree was conferred. Display copies of degrees or course listings do not provide the information needed. ~ AND ~ In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position at the GS- 12 level you must have: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at the least the next lower grade level (GS-11), that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this Pathology Specialist. Specialized experience is experience training residents in pathology, other medical specialties, and medical students, regarding the practice of Anatomic Pathology and Autopsy; providing instruction at the bench and through discussion of relevant topics; performing all elements of gross examination and sectioning of every type of surgical pathology specimens; providing description of tissue received from surgery (includes noting size, color, consistency and anatomic orientation); Utilizing voice activated dictation system or alternative in support of grossing and autopsy duties; and performing autopsies, with or without an autopsy assistant, upon review of the medical record, correlation of the gross pathology with the patient's clinical presentation, preparation of external and internal descriptions. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Medical InformationMedicine and DentistryTechnical CompetenceTechnical Credibility IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

There is no educational substitution at thie GS-12 grade level.

NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System 11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]