Career Center

Summary

The Robley Rex VAMC (RRVAMC) is seeking a full-time staff pathologist. The RRVAMC encompasses the health care facility at 800 Zorn Avenue - Louisville - Kentucky - as well as the surrounding CBOCs (community-based outpatient clinic). The anatomic and clinical staff pathologist provides diagnostic services within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services.

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
• Preferred Experience: Board certification in atomic and clinical pathology - practicing general surgical pathology and cytology
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: The AP/CP pathologist is ultimately responsible for diagnostic interpretation of specimens processed within the PLMS
• The AP/CP pathologist will gross surgical pathology specimens
• Processing and interpretation of intraoperative frozen sections
• Provide intraoperative and intraprocedural consultation as requested
• Interpretation/sign-out of general surgical pathology and cytopathology specimens within expected turnaround time
• Ordering/interpretation of appropriate immunohistochemical stains and special stains
• Participation in multi-disciplinary conferences such as Tumor Board - M & M - transfusion utilization committee - etc. - if needed
• Review appropriate clinical history/medical record when responsible for autopsy coverage and discuss with clinical team ensuring appropriate consent documentation before proceeding with autopsy
• Perform/supervise autopsy Issue preliminary autopsy findings within 2 business/working days of autopsy
• Issue completed autopsy report with clinicopathologic correlation within 60 working/business days of autopsy
• Take turns in providing on-call services
• Participate in required continuing medical education (CME) in order to maintain licensure/privileges - and constantly improve diagnostic skills
• Responsible for timely completion of VA assigned educational modules
• Participate in approved department and interfacility research projects
• Projects as assigned by the Chief of PLMS
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• Relocation Incentive: Current VA employee and moving at least 50 miles or more
• Applicant must show proof of relocation
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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
• Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN9HREDRP@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 Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm M-F is typical - alternative schedule may be possible depending on clinical needs