Open Rank Lecturer of Pathology

University of New Mexico • Albuquerque, NM

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Pathology has an exciting opportunity for two full time pathologists’ assistants to expand our existing team of three Pathologists’ Assistants. The Pathologists’ Assistant will contribute to the overall mission of the institution by providing outstanding patient care, pursuing knowledge and excellence of practice, and fostering a supportive learning environment for trainees. Our three Pathologists’ Assistants have a combined total experience of 30 years, offering an ideal setting for either a new graduate looking for a supportive career start and mentorship, or an experienced Pathologists’ Assistant who enjoys teaching and grossing a wide variety of specimens. Our pathologists and Pathologists’ Assistants currently serve the University of New Mexico Hospital, associated clinics, a satellite hospital, and an outpatient surgical center. We have an annual volume of approximately 20,000 surgical specimens. As the state’s only Level 1 trauma center, UNM provides the highest level of care for critically injured patients. University Hospital recently opened the new $700 million Critical Care Tower, the largest construction project by total cost in the history of New Mexico. The tower has an 18-room operating suite being referred to as “the operating room of the future”. Additionally, University Hospital plans to open an additional 10 operating rooms in late 2026 which will increase the volume of surgical specimens. This high visibility faculty position combines clinical service, teaching, and research responsibilities. Our Pathologists’ Assistants interact daily with pathologists, surgeons, residents, fellows, and clinicians. Clinical work varies from simple to complex specimens, including laryngectomies, pancreaticoduodenectomies, soft-tissue tumors, and amputations for tumors. With a busy head and neck service, PAs perform numerous frozen sections and intraoperative consultations daily. The PAs continuously maintain high quality of care by reviewing patient histories, including gross photography and/or annotated diagrams, and triaging tissue for special studies including flow cytometry and cytogenetics. Additional responsibilities include assessing renal biopsies for adequacy, and occasionally traveling to our satellite hospital to prepare and scan frozen sections. As faculty lecturers, the Pathologists’ Assistants are heavily involved in teaching pathology residents and medical students rotating through the lab. One resident, ranging from PGY1 to PGY3, is assigned to the gross room each day; there is a total of 16 residents. Residents are guided through dissection of all surgical specimens and achieve competency in performing frozen sections. Research responsibilities consist of triaging tissue for tumor banking and Children’s Oncology Group (COG) studies. There are no autopsy responsibilities.

Requirements

• Master's degree from a NAACLS accredited Pathologists' Assistant program; or Bachelor's degree from a NAACLS accredited Pathologists' Assistant program and 3 years of directly-related experience; or a Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of directly-related experience.
• Must be ASCP-PA certified or eligible for certification within 1 year of employment.
• Eligible to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience and/or training as a pathologists’ assistant
• Previous experience working at an academic institution
• Previous experience teaching residents
• Previous experience cutting frozen sections
• Previous experience triaging tissue for research and tumor banking and/or special studies
• A demonstrated commitment to cultivate an understanding of the rich and varied cultures of New Mexico and to the success of the University's mission to serve local and global communities

Responsibilities

• Provide outstanding patient care.
• Pursue knowledge and excellence of practice.
• Foster a supportive learning environment for trainees.
• Grossing a wide variety of specimens.
• Interact daily with pathologists, surgeons, residents, fellows, and clinicians.
• Perform frozen sections and intraoperative consultations daily.
• Review patient histories, including gross photography and/or annotated diagrams.
• Triage tissue for special studies including flow cytometry and cytogenetics.
• Assess renal biopsies for adequacy.
• Occasionally travel to satellite hospital to prepare and scan frozen sections.
• Teach pathology residents and medical students rotating through the lab.
• Guide residents through dissection of all surgical specimens.
• Achieve competency in performing frozen sections.
• Triage tissue for tumor banking and Children’s Oncology Group (COG) studies.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs
• annual stipend for AAPA conference or educational resources

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level