Director of Oral Pathology Laboratory, Advanced Clinical Services

Western University; Pomona (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Generous paid time off

Insurance plans

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Western University of Health Sciences is seeking a Director of Oral Pathology Laboratory, Advanced Clinical Services to lead the CDM OP Lab while holding a concurrent faculty appointment. This full‑time role combines administration and academic duties, with salary reflecting combined responsibilities.

The Director will oversee operations, quality control, CQI activities, and regulatory compliance, ensuring high‑quality diagnostic services and educational initiatives within the College of Dental

Qualifications

• DDS or DMD degree requirement.
• Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology from a CODA‑accredited Advanced Education Program.
• Minimum four years of advanced training in oral pathology and 2–4 years of full‑time experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct the overall operation of the CDM Oral Pathology Laboratory.
• Provide consultations about clinical laboratory results and communicate with clinicians and patients.
• Define, implement, and monitor standards of performance in quality control and cost‑effective pathology services.
• Oversee budgeting, resource allocation, and development of educational programs.
• Ensure compliance with state, federal, and local regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Humanism

Education

DDS or DMD

CODA‑accredited pathology cert.

Job description

Director of Oral Pathology Laboratory, Advanced Clinical Services

As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.

At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.

Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.

Position Title

Position Title Director of Oral Pathology Laboratory, Advanced Clinical Services

Position Control Number

Position Control Number A02117

Type of Position

Type of Position Administration

Position Status

Position Status Full-time

Department

Department 1901-College of Dental Medicine

Campus

Campus Western University Campus-Pomona, CA

Position Location

Position Location California

Job Summary

This is a College of Dental Medicine Full-Time Administrative position within Western University of Health Sciences and is offered in conjunction with a faculty appointment. Together, the administrative role of Director of Oral Pathology Laboratory, Advanced Clinical Services ( PCN A02117) and the faculty role ( PCN 999124) comprise a full-time position (1.0 FTE ).

The salary range listed in this posting represents the total compensation for the combined Administrative and Faculty responsibilities. Please refer to the corresponding job posting under our Faculty jobs section for details on the additional assignment.

The CDM Director of Oral Pathology Laboratory Director ( DOPL ) primary responsibilities include planning, organizing, and directing the overall operation of the CDM Oral Pathology Laboratory (OP Lab). The OP Lab delivers high-quality oral pathology diagnostic services that are crucial to outstanding patient care. The OPLD ensure that services are of the best quality, are cost contained and are carried out in an expeditious manner. Additionally, the OPLD participates in CQI activities and maintains efficient and effective operations in compliance with all state, federal, and local regulatory laws, standards and protocols. To provide advanced clinical services related to the Oral Pathology laboratory.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Individuals must possess these skills, abilities and knowledge or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Knowledge:

• Recognized knowledge and experience in area of expertise.

Skills:

• Ability to interact in an effective and positive manner with individuals of diverse backgrounds, including administration, faculty, students, staff, and outside contacts.

Abilities:

• Ability to effectively conduct detail-oriented assignments and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple responsibilities in an academic environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups, both in writing and orally.
• Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism.

Required Qualifications

Any combination of education, training or experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this job.

Education:

• Doctor of Dental Surgery ( DDS ) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry ( DMD ).
• Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology from a CODA -accredited Advanced Education Program.

Experience:

• Minimum of four years of training and full-time experience advanced training in an oral pathology program approved by the American Dental Association ( ADA ) Committee on Accreditation Dental and Dental Auxiliary Education Programs in an education institution.
• 2. 4 years of full-time experience in oral pathology in the subspecialty of oral pathology within the specialty or pathology or other specialty or subspecialty specified by regulation.

Licenses & Certifications:

• Current oral pathology laboratory director license in California.
• Certified in oral pathology by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology with current Diplomate status.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• 3 or more years of experience managing staff.
• Knowledge of finances related to managing an OP Lab.

Key Responsibilities

Consultation:

• Provide consultations about the significance of clinical laboratory results for purposes of diagnosis and possible treatment, as appropriate (or ensure that such consultations are provided by a pathologist or other qualified physician or dentist).
• Interpret, correlate, and communicate laboratory to clinicians, patients, and other authorized requestors (or ensure that functions are carried out by a pathologists or other qualified physician or dentist).

Anatomic Pathology:

• Perform anatomic pathology (i.e., oral pathology) procedures, or ensure anatomic pathology services are provided by a qualified pathologist.

Standards of Performance:

• Define, implement, and monitor standards of performance in quality control processes, quality improvement, and cost effectiveness of the pathology and clinical laboratory services.

Proficiency testing (alternative assessment program):

• Ensure that the proficiency testing (PT) system or alternative assessment program covers the extent and complexity of the testing performed in the laboratory and develops a mechanism for determining the reliability of tests non-regulated analytes.
• Ensure that test methods and procedures are scientifically valid and clinically relevant.

Monitoring and correlation of laboratory data:

• Monitor all work performed by the laboratory to determine that timely and medically reliable data are being generated and appropriately reported, correlate laboratory data for diagnosis and patient management.

Quality Management:

• Assume responsibility for implementation of the quality management plan.
• The director and professional laboratory personnel may participate as members of the quality improvement committees of the institution, if applicable.
• Select reference laboratories based on quality service and monitor the performance of such laboratories.
• Perform weekly chart audits to ensure all codes, notes, forms, and documents are entered into the electronic health record and approved if needed.

Strategic Planning:

• Perform planning for setting goals and developing and allocating resources appropriate to the medical and dental environment.
• Oversee the development of WesternU Health Oral Pathology Laboratory’s plans and programs in evaluation of long‑range planning and regulatory action on operational performance.

Administration and Management:

• Provide effective and efficient administration of the oral pathology laboratory service, including budget planning and control with responsible financial management, in accordance with regulatory requirements and institutional assignment of such responsibilities.
• Ensure all information is entered into the electronic health record in a timely manner.

Provide educational programs for the medical, dental, and laboratory and clinical staff and participate in educational programs of the institution as required.

Key Responsibilities

Research and Development:

• Plan and direct research and development appropriate to the facility and focused upon the clinical needs of the facility.

Other duties as assigned:

• This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties for this position. The College of Dental Medicine reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Posting Details Continued

Work Schedule

• Usual hours are Monday‑Friday 8 AM to 5 PM with the possibility of hours outside of this timeframe when necessary to perform the duties of the position.
• Some evenings, weekends and holidays may be included.
• May require travel to CDM clinical location which include but are not limited to Pomona, El Monte, Chino Hills, and Rancho Mirage.

We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs.

We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally,

• Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success.
• Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment.
• Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community.
• As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences.
• WesternU’s core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do.
• We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity