Physician Assistant

National Institutes of Health • Montgomery County, MD

2d

About The Position

The Physician Assistant will join the Thoracic Surgery Branch (TSB) of the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), performing complex and novel patient care and research activities. The position supports clinical and basic research studies and provides direct patient care in hospital and clinic settings.

The role includes taking patient histories, conducting physical examinations, assessing patients’ need for medical attention, reviewing records, preparing patient summaries, and ordering laboratory studies. The Physician Assistant coordinates collection of study specimens, participates in rounds and patient care conferences, and communicates patient condition and treatment-plan changes to attending physicians and nurses. The role also supports clinical trials, advises on research study design and development, and coordinates communications about research protocol eligibility with referring physicians, hospitals, government agencies, and patients.

This is an emergency-essential position requiring the selected candidate to be available and able to report for duty under all circumstances to support coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A one- or two-year trial or probationary period may apply depending on appointment.

Requirements

• Graduate from a Physician Assistant educational program accredited by ARC-PA or its predecessors at an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting organization.
• Successfully complete the NCCPA examination.
• Maintain certified Physician Assistant status, including continuing medical education and recertification requirements.
• Hold a current, active, full, and unrestricted Physician Assistant license or registration from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• For GS-13 qualification: at least one year of work experience as a certified Physician Assistant equivalent to at least GS-12 in federal service, conducting patient physical assessments and examinations, recommending treatment and therapies for complex health issues, serving as a specialty consultant to nursing services and health disciplines, and interviewing patients about medical history, medications, and past or current infections and diseases.
• Meet the U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status requirement by the announcement closing date.
• Meet all qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days of the announcement closing date, including time-in-grade requirements.
• Submit education transcripts; unofficial transcripts may be included with the application, and official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer.
• Meet the position’s Physician Assistant licensure requirement.
• Be able to perform the essential duties, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Meet background investigation, qualification verification, onboarding, documentation, and other job-related requirements.
• If male and born after December 31, 1959, be registered with the Selective Service.
• Be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances as an emergency-essential employee.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex and novel patient care and research activities.
• Take patient histories and conduct physical examinations; record relevant patient data; assess the need for medical attention; review patient records; and prepare patient summaries.
• Provide expert advice and assistance in designing and developing clinical and basic research studies on assigned health issues.
• Assist with patient examinations and observations during hospital rounds and clinic visits, including taking case histories, conducting physical examinations, and ordering laboratory studies.
• Coordinate and assume responsibility for collecting specimens needed for patient studies.
• Participate in daily rounds and present at patient care conferences with physicians, nursing staff, and other direct-care personnel.
• Keep attending physicians and nurses informed about changes in patients’ conditions and medical treatment plans.
• Direct nursing and other health care personnel in implementing clinical trials.
• Respond to inquiries about research protocol eligibility and coordinate communication with referring physicians, hospitals, government agencies, and patients.

What This Job Offers

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