Pathology Specialist
What you'd do
The incumbent performs the duties of a Pathology Specialist in the anatomic pathology laboratory of the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center. These complex duties include gross examination and dissection of surgical pathology specimens and frozen sections used to identify abnormalities that assist with diagnoses, determine causes, and manage treatments of disease.
Major duties
Duties include, but are not limited to: Surgical Pathology (50%) - Establishes priorities in specimen processing according to laboratory guidelines and clinical considerations without input from supervisor or pathologists. - Independently perform all elements of macroscopic examination to include skills in differentiating normal and abnormal tissue appearances. - Sectioning of all types of surgical pathology specimens ensuring critical relationships within the tissue samples are adequately and accurately represented to allow the pathologist to render a full diagnosis. - Performing or requesting specialized tests including histochemical and immunohistochemical stains and flow cytometry and interpreting the results. - Maintenance of collections of gross photographs, residual tissue, and tissue blocks and slides. - Performs investigations and implements resolutions of problems related to both intra and extradepartmental Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology. - Performs all elements of gross examination and sectioning for diagnosis and treatment for all surgical specimens in accordance with the CAP Cancer Protocol Templates for patient staging as required. - Takes photographs or radiographs, performs margin assessment, applies tissue ink to identify surgical margins which are critical to cancer diagnostics, and takes necessary weights and measurements as required. - Performs macroscopic examination, selectively obtains dissected sections from fresh tissue samples and preparation of tissue for intraoperative consultations (STAT testing). - Ensures accuracy of specimen source, patient information and related information on specimen(s) and paperwork. - Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained. - Accessions tests into the laboratory computer system and ensures all applicable orders are utilized. - Performs duties related to tissue disposal from surgical pathology and disposal of slides and patient materials based on VHA/National retention guidelines and needed. - Ensures sound infection control practices are followed, and that the correct personal protective equipment is used for tasks performed. Safely disposes of all chemical and biohazardous waste materials in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. - Utilizes computers and related software applications relevant to anatomic pathology technology. - Ability to independently perform with frozen section microtomy, staining of slides, cover slipping, labelling and telepathology. - Ability to perform preparation of cytology specimens to include aliquoting, centrifuging, submitting collected aggregates of cells for histological staining, slide creation and staining. Quality Assurance (25%) - Develop procedures to optimize resource utilization and to promote efficiency and productivity. - Ensures compliance with VHA and accreditation agency regulations governing laboratory operations. - Complies with and participates in quality initiatives, including audits and follow-up, site inspections, and process improvements. - Compiles and maintains anatomic pathology and autopsy quality data to include monthly and yearly statistics. - Participates in the accreditation inspection process. Training/Teaching (15%) - Teaches anatomic pathology practices and principles to clinical staff and allied health professionals. - Oversees and teaches residents, students, pathologists' assistants, and other qualified personnel in the initial examination, dissection, and processing of surgical pathology specimens. - Provides in-service training to departments throughout the hospital regarding specimen collection and submission to the laboratory manager or designee's request. - Maintains the resident and student grossing training records and safety training records. Autopsy (10%) - Performs autopsies in rotation with resident and/or senior staff, under the supervision of a Pathologist. - Inspects the autopsy consent form for accuracy and completeness and reviews medical records relevant to patient's death. - Coordinates and arranges viewings as requested by the family or hospital personnel. - Ensures autopsy and morgue suites are in compliance with all accreditation requirements and VA directives. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: This position is not authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Pathology Specialist/PD95381-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/27/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements - Basic Requirements Education: 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 (external link) at the time the degree was obtained. [Note: You must include a copy of your transcripts. If you do not submit a copy, your applicant will be found ineligible] Certification. In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the degree must be from an approved Pathologists' Assistant training program. The academic and practical training must consist of graduation from a NAACLS approved educational training program and have obtained a passing score on the ASCP pathologists' assistant board examination. You must also qualify based on your experience/education described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of gross anatomy and gross pathology; recognize reliably pathologic abnormalities in a wide variety of surgical and clinical tissue specimens; skill in the performance of permanent and frozen section techniques and standard histochemical and immunohistochemical stains; knowledge of immunology and cell biology to comprehend complex theories and reactions related to immunohistochemistry; use and maintain complex instruments (e.g. microtome, cryostat, cameras, specimen radiography system, and automated tissue processor); utilize basic computer systems and functions; perform quality assurance procedures, laboratory accreditation requirements, and troubleshooting for the surgical pathology section; handle and manage anatomic pathology safety and hazard requirements and procedures; interpret regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements, medicolegal responsibilities, and statutes governing operations. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related to the work of the position. (Transcripts must be submitted). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education to qualify at the GS-11 level. This can be determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the required experience and education as a percentage of the total required. The total percentage must equal 100 percent. Only education more than the first 18 semester hours (i.e. beyond the first-year graduate level education) is creditable towards meeting the specialized experience requirement. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent long periods of standing (up to 7 hours per day) to perform macroscopic examinations and teaching others to do so. Recurring bending over occurs frequently when performing frozen sections, changing waste containers at workstation and cleaning contaminated surfaces. Occasional lifting of heavy items such as 5-gallon liquid chemical containers, body parts and deceased patients are required by the incumbent. The work involves utilizing a computer, visual acuity, and above average manual dexterity and the use of both hands. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations. 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/.
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