U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Pathology Specialist
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Summary Employee will serve as a Pathology Specialist within the Pathology and Laboratory Department located at the VA Boston Healthcare System in West Roxbury, MA.
Duties
Coordinate surgical pathology functions, working independently to perform these high complexity functions, or in collaboration with one or more pathologists.
Oversee and perform work in the grossing areas, frozen section areas and autopsy suite to ensure proper processing of tissue samples, especially those requiring special handling.
Monitor workflow, design and implement new processes and procedures, evaluate outcomes and implement improvements.
Maintain, develop, and participate in the development of up-to-date anatomical pathology protocols.
Determine the appropriate triage of patient biopsy material for additional testing and use judgment on the correct additional tests to apply to limited sample.
Provide oversight of quality assurance functions to ensure the quality of technical work is performed.
Prepare work areas for inspections and participate in internal, regulatory, safety and accreditation inspection processes.
Assist in the teaching of residents and medical students.
Develop policies and procedures for autopsy protocol, specimen grossing, frozen section procedures, morgue set up and supplies.
Perform examination and processing of pathology specimens including fixing, gross examination, orientation, cutting and dissecting, photographing, and sectioning of patient autopsy, biopsy and surgical specimens.
Accession biopsy and surgical specimens and ensure that requisitions are properly completed, and that specimen containers and cassettes are properly labeled.
Address clinician/provider inquiries concerning autopsy and surgical cases.
Assisting in setting up gross specimen conferences, such as the autopsy or brain cutting conferences.
Assist pathologists, residents, and medical students in completing autopsies, lifting bodies from the stretcher to the table, in handling surgical instruments such as knives, saws, scaffolds, forceps, etc.
Assist in the collection of fluids or tissue specimens for approved research projects, under supervision by the pathologists.
Ensure the morgue and cutting room are properly supplied, maintain inventory and report items to be ordered to the anatomic pathology manager.
Develop, review and revise procedures in anatomic pathology.
Ensure that anatomic pathology equipment is functioning properly and take appropriate action when there is an equipment malfunction.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives Not authorized
Requirements
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Subject to background/security investigation
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the following qualification requirements.
BASIC EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Requires 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(at the time the degree was obtained).
AND GS-9 grade Minimum Qualification Requirements: EXPERIENCE:
Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes providing technical and administrative assistance of pathology grossing areas, frozen section areas and an autopsy suite; serving as technical consultant and advisor to pathologists, laboratory managers/supervisors, medical staff (both local and external) regarding policies, procedures, and practices related to anatomic pathology.
OR EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Successfully completed two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree
or
master's or equivalent graduate degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position.
OR COMBINATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of one full year of graduate education may be combined with experience.
GS-11 grade Minimum Qualification Requirements: EXPERIENCE:
Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes coordinating surgical pathology functions, working independently to perform these high complexity functions, or in collaboration with the pathologists; performing work in the grossing areas, frozen section areas and autopsy suite to ensure proper processing of tissue samples, especially those requiring special handling; monitoring workflow, designing and implementing new processes and procedures, evaluating outcomes and implementing improvements.
OR EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Successfully completed three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree
or
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR COMBINATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of two full years may be combined with experience.
A
Quality Ranking Factor*
has also been requested by the facility to help determine which of the basically qualified applicants are likely to be better qualified for a position. The quality ranking factor for this position is: Highly qualified candidates are ASCP Certified (American Society for Clinical Pathology). (A copy of your Valid certification is required at time of application submission to receive credit)
Qualifications are assessed on the following Competencies: Communications Diagnostic Medical Testing Infection Control Quality Management Quality Ranking Factor
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. Applicants will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing, bending over instruments, counters, and tables (cryostat, autopsy table, cutting benches), as well as heavy lifting (bodies; supplies). The work procedure requires manual dexterity and depth perception for determining depth and angles of cuts into human tissues.
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Summary Employee will serve as a Pathology Specialist within the Pathology and Laboratory Department located at the VA Boston Healthcare System in West Roxbury, MA.
Duties
Coordinate surgical pathology functions, working independently to perform these high complexity functions, or in collaboration with one or more pathologists.
Oversee and perform work in the grossing areas, frozen section areas and autopsy suite to ensure proper processing of tissue samples, especially those requiring special handling.
Monitor workflow, design and implement new processes and procedures, evaluate outcomes and implement improvements.
Maintain, develop, and participate in the development of up-to-date anatomical pathology protocols.
Determine the appropriate triage of patient biopsy material for additional testing and use judgment on the correct additional tests to apply to limited sample.
Provide oversight of quality assurance functions to ensure the quality of technical work is performed.
Prepare work areas for inspections and participate in internal, regulatory, safety and accreditation inspection processes.
Assist in the teaching of residents and medical students.
Develop policies and procedures for autopsy protocol, specimen grossing, frozen section procedures, morgue set up and supplies.
Perform examination and processing of pathology specimens including fixing, gross examination, orientation, cutting and dissecting, photographing, and sectioning of patient autopsy, biopsy and surgical specimens.
Accession biopsy and surgical specimens and ensure that requisitions are properly completed, and that specimen containers and cassettes are properly labeled.
Address clinician/provider inquiries concerning autopsy and surgical cases.
Assisting in setting up gross specimen conferences, such as the autopsy or brain cutting conferences.
Assist pathologists, residents, and medical students in completing autopsies, lifting bodies from the stretcher to the table, in handling surgical instruments such as knives, saws, scaffolds, forceps, etc.
Assist in the collection of fluids or tissue specimens for approved research projects, under supervision by the pathologists.
Ensure the morgue and cutting room are properly supplied, maintain inventory and report items to be ordered to the anatomic pathology manager.
Develop, review and revise procedures in anatomic pathology.
Ensure that anatomic pathology equipment is functioning properly and take appropriate action when there is an equipment malfunction.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives Not authorized
Requirements
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Subject to background/security investigation
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the following qualification requirements.
BASIC EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Requires 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(at the time the degree was obtained).
AND GS-9 grade Minimum Qualification Requirements: EXPERIENCE:
Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes providing technical and administrative assistance of pathology grossing areas, frozen section areas and an autopsy suite; serving as technical consultant and advisor to pathologists, laboratory managers/supervisors, medical staff (both local and external) regarding policies, procedures, and practices related to anatomic pathology.
OR EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Successfully completed two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree
or
master's or equivalent graduate degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position.
OR COMBINATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of one full year of graduate education may be combined with experience.
GS-11 grade Minimum Qualification Requirements: EXPERIENCE:
Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes coordinating surgical pathology functions, working independently to perform these high complexity functions, or in collaboration with the pathologists; performing work in the grossing areas, frozen section areas and autopsy suite to ensure proper processing of tissue samples, especially those requiring special handling; monitoring workflow, designing and implementing new processes and procedures, evaluating outcomes and implementing improvements.
OR EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Successfully completed three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree
or
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR COMBINATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of two full years may be combined with experience.
A
Quality Ranking Factor*
has also been requested by the facility to help determine which of the basically qualified applicants are likely to be better qualified for a position. The quality ranking factor for this position is: Highly qualified candidates are ASCP Certified (American Society for Clinical Pathology). (A copy of your Valid certification is required at time of application submission to receive credit)
Qualifications are assessed on the following Competencies: Communications Diagnostic Medical Testing Infection Control Quality Management Quality Ranking Factor
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. Applicants will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing, bending over instruments, counters, and tables (cryostat, autopsy table, cutting benches), as well as heavy lifting (bodies; supplies). The work procedure requires manual dexterity and depth perception for determining depth and angles of cuts into human tissues.
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