Pathology Specialist

About the role

This position requires a Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with evaluation and implementation of new equipment and ordering supplies when needed.
• Embedding, cutting, staining and labeling of routine histology as needed including performing aspirate smears and clot sections for bone marrow biopsies.
• Preparing tissues and slides for intraoperative assessment by frozen sections.
• Photographing gross specimens.
• Investigating and resolving problems including quality control assurances activities related to surgical pathology.
• Assisting in the goals of Anatomic Pathology by performing any other duties that are in the best interest of patient care and deemed necessary by the supervisor.
• Plays a central roll in the education and training of residents in pathology, other medical specialties and medical students, regarding the practice of Surgical pathology and Autopsy.
• Evaluates new procedures for incorporation into the lab and assesses the effectiveness of the procedures once in place.
• Assists in the collection and interpretation of data for Anatomic Pathology Quality Assurance (QA) programs.
• Performs other administrative duties for the laboratory on an as needed basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

The work requires long periods of standing while performing gross examinations and teaching others to do so, recurring bending over when performing frozen sections and autopsies, occasional lifting of heavy items (nota bene although a mechanized lift is used to moved deceased patients, adjusting the bodies on the table, lifting on bloc organ resections and containers and pushing carts may require the application of 80-100 lbs. of force), and above average dexterity in dissecting specimens and cutting frozen sections.

Qualifications

• To apply for this position, you must have the following qualifications:
• This position requires a Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.
• AND
• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 7) in Federal Service that includes performing the following duties: performs all elements of gross examination and sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens; performs or requests specialized tests including histochemical and immunohistochemical stains and flow cytometry as well as performing quality control (QC) on the samples; insures all procedures and protocols are maintained up to date with regulatory criteria; performs orientation and training of new employees and residents as needed; assists with evaluation and implementation of new equipment and ordering of supplies; assists in the performance of the autopsy after review of the medical record, correlation of the gross pathology with the patient's clinical presentation, preparation of external and internal descriptions, sectioning, preparation and release of the body for pickup by a funeral home, orders special studies (e.g., cultures, histochemical and immunohistochemical stains, electron microscopy); maintains the autopsy suite in clean, working order including equipment and instrument maintenance, disposal of organs, basic cleaning.