Pathologist

About the role

The JJP Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) encompasses the health care facilities at the James J Peters VA Healthcare System in Bronx, NY, as well as the surrounding CBOCs in White Plains and Queens.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical laboratory consultation to technical personnel and healthcare providers.
• Participation in Quality Assurance measures for laboratory sections as required by accreditation standards.
• Teaching of residents, medical students, allopathic medicine students and other healthcare personnel who seek training within the field of Pathology.
• The AP/CP pathologist is ultimately responsible for diagnostic interpretation of specimens processed within the laboratory.
• The AP/CP pathologist will provide residents and/or trainees information on specimen processing and evaluation.
• Review of gross specimens
• Processing and interpretation of intraoperative frozen sections.
• Provide intraoperative and intraprocedural consultation as requested.
• Interpretation/sign-out of surgical pathology specimens within CAP guidelines for turnaround time.
• Ordering/interpretation of appropriate immunohistochemical stains and special stains.
• Participation in multi-disciplinary conferences such as Tumor Board, M & M, dermatopathology conferences, hematopathology conferences, etc.
• Implementation of tasks assigned by the Chief of PLMS
• Review appropriate clinical history/medical record when responsible for autopsy coverage and discuss with clinical team ensuring appropriate consent documentation before proceeding with autopsy.
• Perform/supervise autopsy
• Issue preliminary autopsy findings within 2 calendar days of autopsy.
• Issue completed autopsy report with clinicopathologic correlation within 60 days of autopsy.
• Participation in Quality Assurance measures including inter-laboratory comparison programs and in Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation as designated by the Chief of PLMS.
• Provide 24 hour on-call services as designated in the monthly schedule.
• Review hematology fluids and issue diagnostic interpretation.
• Participate in required continuing medical education (CME) in order to maintain licensure/privileges, and constantly improve diagnostic skills.
• Responsible for timely completion of VA assigned educational modules.
• Responsible for diagnostic expertise and sign-out in any area for which sub-specialty fellowship training has been completed.
• Participate in approved department and interfacility research projects.

Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.); Light carrying (under 15 lbs.); Straight Pulling (up to 2 hours); Pushing (up to 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Kneeling (up to 1.5 hours); Repeated bending (up to 2 hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing (aid permitted); Clear speech.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off 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)
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
• CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm M-F is typical, alternative schedule may be possible depending on clinical needs

Pay

Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases

Schedule

8:00am-4:30pm M-F is typical, alternative schedule may be possible depending on clinical needs

U.S. Citizenship

Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment)

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Education

• Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine.
• 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.

Additional information

• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
• It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
• VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
• The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.