Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine
• The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Current - full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification
• (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. - not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
• rather - they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
• Additionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Candidate should be board certified or eligible in anatomic and clinical pathology
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions
• Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices - heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers - both hands required - walking or standing up to 4 hours per day
• repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination
• near vision correctable
• hearing aid permitted
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is seeking to fill several Pathologist positions (Multiple Schedules)
• The ideal candidate should be board certified or eligible in anatomic and clinical pathology and have current up-to-date knowledge in the Pathology field
• The Pittsburgh VA Health Care System (VAPHS) Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) is seeking a highly motivated AP/CP Board Certified Pathologist
• Applicants should have a strong background and recent experience in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
• Preference will be given to applicants with subspecialty training - expertise - and interest in oncologic surgical pathology - gastrointestinal pathology - genitourinary/renal pathology - or thoracic pathology
• Applicants who are subspecialty trained in hematopathology who are willing to sign out anatomic pathology cases will also be given preference
• Experience teaching residents is also preferred
• Applicants must also be competitive for an academic appointment with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Faculty track and academic rank will be determined based upon qualifications and experience
• Duties include but are not limited to: Perform surgical pathology gross - microscopic - and final diagnosis along with coding of surgical pathology reports in rotation with other pathologists
• Surgical pathology receives biopsies - small specimens - skin specimens - and complex resection cases from a diverse range of specialties - with emphasis in GI and pancreatobiliary - genitourinary/renal - lung - and ENT cases
• Grossing is performed by grossing technicians
• Sign out of dermatopathology cases is performed by dermatopathologists
• Autopsies are performed at an outside institution
• Provide intraoperative consultation to surgical services
• Perform rapid onsite evaluation for CT guided and US guided fine needle aspiration biopsies
• provide diagnoses on gynecologic and non-gynecologic cytology specimens
• Participate in prospective peer review and retrospective review of 10% cases when needed
• Perform review and interpretation of serum and urine protein electrophoresis
• Perform review and interpretation of peripheral blood smears and body fluids
• Additional responsibilities may include oversight of a section of the laboratory - providing clinical consultation services and oversight of the QA/QI of the department
• Participate on hospital/departmental committees and hospital/departmental conferences as needed
• Ensure compliance with federal statutes - VA directive and policies - College of American Pathologists accreditation standards - and New Employee Orientation standards
• Supervision of pathology trainees in surgical pathology and clinical pathology
• Teach rotating medical students - pathology residents - and clinical fellows and laboratory technical staff as needed
• Provide consultation to the Medical Center and laboratory staff in matters of test utilizations - technical and result interpretation
• Evening and weekend call on a rotating basis
• Work Schedule: Tour of duty is standard daylight hours - Monday through Friday
• however - weekend and evening hours may occur when Veteran needs arise
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1 -000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting