The Pathology Specialist (Pathologists' Assistant) is the leader and authority for the operation of the Surgical Pathology Section including autopsy services. The Surgical Pathology Section is a part of the Anatomic Pathology department of Pathology and Laboratory Service at the Orlando VA Medical Center which is a large acute care hospital affiliated with the University of Central Florida medical school and residency program located in Orlando, FL, PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor of Health Science degree, or an equivalent or higher degree from an approved pathologists' assistant training program Experience assisting with autopsy procedures ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) certification for Pathologists' Assistant EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with the major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. All applicants must provide a transcript before the closing date. Any applicant that does not provide the transcript OR does not meet the basic education requirement will not receive further consideration for this position. AND In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must meet at least one of the following grade requirements: GS-11 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience: Experience in grossing surgical pathology specimens and frozen section services. NOTE: Your resume must reflect this experience requirement if you are qualifying based on experience. OR GS-11 EDUCATION: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR at least three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position (Pathologist Specialist Assistant). TRANSCRIPT (official or unofficial) REQUIRED OR GS-11 COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above. TRANSCRIPT (official or unofficial) REQUIRED You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Diagnostic Medical Testing Medical Information Quality Assurance Technical Competence 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires above average manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision, regular and recurring physical exertion such as the use of a manual cryostat, climbing stairs, standing for long periods of time while performing gross examinations, bending when performing frozen sections, and lifting 5-gallon containers and moving human bodies. Intense concentration in noisy and congested areas is required. Significant time using a computer is required. It is imperative that the incumbent has a high degree of tolerance and ability to work under stress which at times can be irregular and sometimes constant. Additionally, the demand for accuracy and timeliness in results to pathologists responsible for patient care is an ever-present responsibility and a constant concern. At times, immediate action is required to produce information, solve a technical issue, or interact another VA employee. 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/. ["***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** MAJOR DUTIES: Oversees and performs work in the accessioning and grossing areas and directs technician(s) and technologist(s) to assure proper processing of tissue specimens, especially those requiring special handling (i.e. flow cytometry, receptor status, decalcification). Evaluates, modifies, and recommends new methods or revises standard techniques to improve or enhance accuracy, timeliness, or proficiency of analyses. Correlates the pathophysiology of disease processes; to recognize and identify normal tissue, abnormalities, and disease entities (both expected and unexpected); to identify the type and purpose of surgery performed, to orient the tissues. and organs to expected anatomic position; and to select samples for microscopic evaluation which enables the pathologist to provide complete diagnostic and staging information and an accurate final diagnosis upon which therapeutic decisions are based. Responsible for staffing and operating the gross dissection laboratory and frozen section laboratory and training technologists/technicians, providing instruction and guidance for surgical tissue accessioning, sampling, processing, and disposition. Oversees and performs work during intraoperative diagnosis using frozen section technique and during autopsy procedures to assure proper processing of human tissue specimens for complete diagnostic information to ensure a reliable final diagnosis. Communicates with the surgeon during intraoperative consultation and selects tissue from fresh specimens for evaluation of macroscopic specimen adequacy and margins using frozen section technique. Orients and freezes tissue sample, prepares ultra-thin sections representing the full sample margins, mounts sections on microscope slides, and stains using dyes and chemicals to properly demonstrate the nuclear and cellular components for intraoperative diagnosis and evaluation of margins. Evaluates fresh specimens to investigate for lymphoma and determines the required processes to demonstrate the suspect disease. Prepares touch preparations/imprints for evaluation and submits samples using special techniques for Flow Cytometry and Bacteriology evaluation. Supervises all activities related to the Autopsy Service. Inspects the autopsy authorization form for completeness and correctness, coordinates with decedent affairs, and schedules histology and pathology staff to assist with the autopsy and cover all other surgical pathology duties during the procedure. Collects photographs of the body, internal organs, lesions, and other pertinent findings based on identifying unique characteristics contributing to the formal diagnosis. Completes post-mortem examination to include external examination; completes removal and dissection of visceral organs, brain, and spinal cord as indicated in order to demonstrate the presence or absence of disease and/or anatomic variation; and collects appropriate postmortem tissue samples and body fluids for further evaluations and for special studies ( e.g., cultures, clinical laboratory tests). Trains and directly supervises the autopsy assistant throughout the autopsy procedure. Coordinates autopsy scheduling of pathology residents and teaches the proper performance of post-mortem examinations (autopsies), to include external and internal examination, and removal, dissection, and thorough examination of visceral organs, brain, and spinal cord. Demonstrates and advises upon standard and specialized autopsy procedures unique to the assessment of specific disease states. Creates, maintains, and revises Standard Operating Procedures for Autopsy Procedure Manual. Responsible for meeting the requirements of accreditation inspection checklists ensuring compliance. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
