Associate Chief of Staff - Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Summary

Duties

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The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is responsible for the leadership, direction, and coordination of all activities within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Medical Center. The ACOS ensures the delivery of high-quality and cost-effective laboratory and pathology services to meet the needs of patients and the healthcare team.

Leadership and Administration:

• Develops, implements, and evaluates policies and procedures for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service.
• Directs and oversees operational activities to ensure continuous quality improvement, compliance with regulatory standards, and efficient use of resources.
• Manages budget planning and financial performance, ensuring optimal utilization of departmental resources.
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Assures compliance with VA policies, CAP, CLIA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Represents the department in executive and administrative meetings, contributing to hospital-wide initiatives and policies.

Clinical Services:

• Provides expert diagnostic services, including the interpretation of surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, and clinical laboratory tests.
• Ensures the availability of high-quality diagnostic services, including histology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunology, transfusion medicine, and point-of-care testing.
• Consults with medical staff on the interpretation and clinical relevance of laboratory findings.
• Ensures the implementation of standardized testing protocols and procedures.

Research Service

• Collaborates closely with Research Service to promote VA research activities to establish an efficient process whereby research investigators and programs can partner with and track various services within the laboratory and pathology service.

• Provides researchers and the Research Service with appropriate expertise and partnership on available laboratory and pathology service resources as well as timely review of new and ongoing research projects for regulatory approval.

• Engages in and contributes to multidisciplinary research team meetings, collaborative planning efforts and relevant research committees.

• Promotes a culture of teamwork and shared goals in VA research.

Quality Assurance and Improvement:

• Develops and oversees a robust quality assurance program, ensuring adherence to best practices and continuous improvement.
• Monitors performance metrics, patient outcomes, and satisfaction to identify areas for improvement.
• Leads root cause analyses and corrective action plans when quality issues arise.
• Ensures compliance with safety and infection control policies and practices.

Education and Training:

• Provides leadership in educational programs for residents, fellows, medical students, and laboratory staff.
• Develops continuing education and professional development programs to ensure staff remain current with advances in pathology and laboratory medicine.
• Participates in academic activities, including clinical research, publications, and presentations.

Interdepartmental Collaboration:

• Coordinates with other clinical and administrative departments to optimize patient care and services.
• Engages in multidisciplinary team meetings and collaborative planning efforts.
• Advises and supports clinicians on the appropriate use of laboratory and pathology services.
• Promotes a culture of teamwork and shared goals across all areas of the organization.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong leadership and administrative skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaborative skills.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively.
• Commitment to providing high-quality patient care and advancing the mission of the VA.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday. Selectee will work four ten hour days at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, and the fifth work day at the University of Pennsylvania.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for well qualified.

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

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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/Certification:

• Minimum of 5 years of post-residency experience in pathology, including leadership roles.
• Demonstrated excellence in diagnostic pathology, laboratory management, and quality improvement activities.
• Board certification in Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology.
• Experience in academic medicine and teaching preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Education

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.]

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.