Physician (Chief of Pathology & Laboratory Services) wRecruitmentRelocation Incentive

The Chief of Pathology & Laboratory oversees clinical operations with responsibility for quality outcomes and patient safety. Administrative functions will include but not be limited to budget and fiscal management human resource management strategic planning and program development. The Chief assures that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimum utilization of available resources. The position ensures the quality and timeliness of the services provided including customer satisfaction as well as compliance with standards of accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission CAP OIG etc.

The position ensures appropriate use of available resources and is responsible for inspiring motivating and guiding the VATVCBHCS Path & Lab staff in achieving the strategic goals and plans of the service. The position collaborates with other management officials within the VATVCBHCS in a collegial manner with the aim of furthering the mission of the VHA.

The Chief of Path & Lab functions as a provider in the pathology specialty collaborates with referring providers optimizes timeliness and ensures quality. The Chief of Path & Lab accomplishes the health care delivery mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs in general. Services provided are subject to close scrutiny by Congressional interests service organizations the general public and the media.

The Chief of Path & Lab is to be a physician board certified by the American Board of Pathologists and should hold an unrestricted state medical license within the United States or its territories.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (08:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Telework: Eligible (Ad-hoc)
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 $1000 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

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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

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.
• Education: 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.
• License: 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English.

• At least five years of post-residency diagnostic experience in pathology and laboratory medicine including surgical pathology cytology and clinical pathology.
• Current certification in both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
• Experience as a laboratory service chief / medical director an assistant service chief / assistant medical director or other managerial role preferably in VA or the Department of Defense.
• Working knowledge of laboratory budgetary requirements fiscal planning workload projections and productivity measures.
• Working knowledge of laboratory regulations and preparation for accreditation surveys e.g. College of American Pathologists The Joint Commission OIG CARF.
• At least 2 years post graduate experience in the VA or Department of Defense.