Physician (Anatomical/Clinical Pathologist)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 230,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonus

Paid time off (PTO)

Federal pension and 401(k)

Health, vision, dental insurance

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Phoenix, AZ seeks an Anatomic and Clinical Staff Pathologist to provide diagnostic services across surgical, cytopathology, and autopsy pathology within PALMS. The role may include subspecialty coverage as training permits (e.g., dermatopathology or hematopathology).

Responsibilities include diagnostic interpretation, clinical consultation, QA participation, and teaching residents and medical students. Schedule is typically Mon-Fri with on-call rotation.

Qualifications

• Must be a physician with MD/DO degree and board certification in pathology.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States or District of Columbia.

Responsibilities

• Provide diagnostic interpretation of surgical pathology, cytopathology, and autopsy specimens.
• Provide clinical laboratory consultation to staff and clinicians.
• Participate in quality assurance and multidisciplinary conferences.
• Teach residents, medical students, and staff pathology trainees.
• Perform and supervise autopsies with timely reporting.

Skills

Diagnostic pathology

Cytopathology

Autopsy pathology

Clinical consultation

Education/teaching

Education

MD/DO (Doctor of Medicine)

Board certification in Pathology

Tools

Immunohistochemistry

Special stains

Job description

Summary

The Anatomic and Clinical Staff Pathologist provides diagnostic services within the Pathology and Laboratory Management Service (PALMS) with Phoenix VA, with potential for subspecialty coverage as training permits (examples include dermatopathology or hematopathology).

Qualifications

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.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section 38 U.S.C. 7402(c)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. 7407(a)
• English Language Proficiency: Physicians appointed to direct patient‑care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Education: Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools include those accredited by the LCME or the C.O.A.O. of the AOA.
• Foreign Education: For foreign medical graduates not covered above, facility officials must confirm that the medical school meets ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.
• Licensure/Registration: Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia. Physicians must maintain current registration if required for continuing active licensure.
• Waiver of Licensure: Licensure requirements may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health for individuals in research, academic, or administrative assignments involving no direct patient care, or by the Facility Director for physicians serving in a country other than the United States with licensure there. (See VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – Section B – paragraph 14).
• Damage to credentials: Individuals who have had a license revoked for professional misconduct or incompetence are not eligible unless fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(f)).
• Loss of Credential: Management officials in collaboration with HR must relieve employees who fail to maintain required licensure, which may result in separation from employment.

Residency Training

• Physicians must have successfully completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty program. VA Physicians involved in academic training may be required to be board certified for faculty status. Approved residencies include those accredited by the ACGME leading to board certification, by the AOA leading to board certification, or one year of post‑medical‑school training followed by two years of independent practice in the United States. Non‑US residency followed by at least three years of independent practice also satisfies the requirement.
• Exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency programs who would otherwise meet the basic requirements may be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians, appointed on an intermittent basis, and are not independent practitioners.
• PRPs are to have a scope of practice allowing certain restricted duties under supervision. Surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs.
• In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer to request reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for physicians whose composite record warrants it.

Duties

• Provide diagnostic interpretation of specimens processed within the laboratory, including surgical pathology, cytopathology, and autopsy pathology.
• Provide clinical laboratory consultation to technical personnel and healthcare providers.
• Participate in quality assurance measures for laboratory sections as required by accreditation standards.
• Teach residents, medical students, and other healthcare personnel seeking training within the field of Pathology.
• Provide residents and/or trainees with information on specimen processing and evaluation.
• Review gross specimens, process and interpret intraoperative frozen sections, and provide intraoperative and intraprocedural consultation as requested.
• Interpret and sign out surgical pathology specimens within CAP guidelines for turnaround time.
• Order and interpret appropriate immunohistochemical stains and special stains.
• Participate in multidisciplinary conferences such as Tumor Board, Chest Conference, and GI Conference.
• Review appropriate clinical history and medical record when responsible for autopsy coverage, ensure consent documentation before proceeding with autopsy.
• Perform and supervise autopsies, issue preliminary findings within 24 hours and completed reports with clinicopathologic correlation within 30 days.
• Participate in quality assurance measures including a 10% retrospective review of all anatomic pathology cases and inter‑laboratory comparison programs as designated by Chief – Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
• Provide 24‑hour on‑call services on the monthly schedule.
• Review hematology fluids and issue diagnostic interpretation.
• Participate in required continuing medical education (CME) to maintain licensure/privileges and complete VA assigned LMS educational modules.
• Provide diagnostic expertise and sign‑out in any area for which subspecialty fellowship training has been completed.
• Work schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00 am‑4:30 pm (Weekends, holidays, and on‑call rotations as needed).
• Benefits: VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive salary, performance bonus, salary increases, 50‑55 days of paid time off per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and 5 days paid absence for CME), traditional federal pension (5 years vesting), federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions, and federal health, vision, and dental insurance with long‑term care options. Licensure requirement includes one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory; CME reimbursement up to $1,000 per year (for full‑time board certified physicians). Malpractice coverage is provided with tail coverage. No employment contract or significant restriction on moonlighting.