Physician - Deputy Chief - Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Science

Veterans Health Administration • Durham, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS), serves as the deputy to the senior management official responsible for the service’s clinical, administrative, education, and research functions at the Durham VA Healthcare System. The position is based at the Durham Campus, with travel between campuses as needed. The Deputy Chief reports directly to the Chief of P&LMS and directly or indirectly supervises service staff at Durham and associated outpatient clinics and healthcare centers. The role involves planning, developing, coordinating, directing, and evaluating operations for a large, complex, multi-site laboratory program. Day-to-day oversight focuses on the Durham campus laboratory and assigned outpatient laboratories.

The Deputy Chief helps ensure safe, effective, and compliant clinical and anatomic pathology services. Pathologists participate in a regular rotational call schedule for anatomic and/or clinical pathology. The Deputy Service Chief is expected to remain reachable unless on personal leave, when a designee must provide coverage.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to VHA eligibility requirements and approval. The application must be submitted within four months of appointment; approved awards may be up to $200,000 for a period of one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Permanent change-of-station relocation assistance is not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved school or institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet applicable VA physician qualification requirements.
• Applicants selected for testing-designated positions must undergo pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if a male born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass a background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete the required online onboarding and application documentation.
• If seeking EDRP, meet VHA eligibility requirements and submit an application within four months of appointment; former EDRP participants are ineligible.
• Be available for the described rotational call and coverage responsibilities, including remaining reachable as Deputy Service Chief unless on personal leave and arranging coverage during leave.

Nice To Haves

• American Board of Pathology board certification in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology.
• More than two years of experience in the last five years.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, coordinate, direct, and evaluate operations for a large, complex laboratory program across multiple sites.
• Directly or indirectly supervise P&LMS staff at Durham and associated outpatient clinics and healthcare centers.
• Provide day-to-day oversight of the Durham campus laboratory and assigned outpatient laboratories.
• Contribute to the operation of effective and safe laboratories in compliance with applicable CAP, Joint Commission, FDA, AABB, VA NEO, and other regulatory standards.
• Ensure clinical laboratory test results are accurate and turnaround times meet reasonable expectations, subject to adequate administrative and human resources support.
• Continuously monitor clinical laboratory performance and report results through department and healthcare-system Quality and Safety Committees.
• Ensure accurate anatomic pathology services, including surgical pathology, cytology, and autopsy, with appropriate turnaround times, subject to adequate administrative and human resources support.
• Continuously monitor anatomic pathology performance and report results through department and healthcare-system Quality and Safety Committees.
• Promote an effective and mutually advantageous relationship with academic affiliates.
• Ensure communication and coordination between laboratory services and clinical services.
• Participate in the regular rotational call schedule for anatomic and/or clinical pathology and remain reachable as Deputy Service Chief, arranging a designee during personal leave.
• Travel between campuses as needed to perform duties and supervision.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, of up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible five-day paid absence for CME.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree