Pathologists' Assistant

UPMC Lab Services is hiring a full-time Pathologists' Assistant or Senior Pathologists' Assistant to join the Pathology Lab team! This role will be working  scheduled for daylight shifts with variable start times between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Monday thru Friday, with rotating holiday and on call coverage. The Pathologist's Assistant will provide coverage at our urban hospital sites, which include UPMC Magee and UPMC Presbyterian, and Shadyside hospitals.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to experience a high-volume, fast-paced pathology lab that exists in a busy, urban hospital setting but still maintains a community hospital feel. The pathology team works close together to deliver excellent patient care, while also providing career development and teaching opportunities.

One of the greatest benefits of working in a dynamic urban lab environment is the ability to network and collaborate with your peers on a system level.  UPMC has a robust PA network, and we work together as part of the UPMC Lab Service Center.  Participating in initiatives as a Pathologists’ Assistant in the urban hospitals means you are at the forefront of operational excellence, and that you will have the opportunity to advance your career inside and outside of the organization.

Applicants will be placed into the appropriate job title and salary based on their individual experience and education. 

UPMC is currently offering a generous sign-on bonus of up to $8,000 for Pathologists' Assistants and $20,000 for Sr. Pathologists’ Assistants for those who qualify! 

Responsibilities:

• Provide independent technical leadership, consulting with the Manager or Supervisor on unusual and complex cases, such as oncology cases where the tumor has spread into other organs, cancers that extend into surrounding structures, autopsies on complicated cases, and initial intraoperative examination and tissue banking for uncommon specimens of interest to research such as wide section melanomas and thoracic biopsies.
• Perform duties according to the policies and procedures of the Pathology Department and Hospital including compliance and confidentiality.
• Remain abreast of policies, regulations, guidelines, techniques, procedures and methodologies in anatomic and autopsy pathology.
• Examine and prepare surgical pathology cases for microscopic evaluation by providing gross description, dissection and sections of each case as defined by the Surgical Pathology Manual while maintaining accurate records of all activities.
• Participate in and performs frozen sections, intraoperative consultations, autopsies and prenatal procedures. File and retrieve surgical and autopsy materials and maintains accurate records of all such activities.
• Adhere to all safety standards, policies and procedures related to the handling and disposal of specimens. Comply with standard precaution procedures.
• Ensure that tests are prepared properly at all stages from specimen collection through results reporting, and performs additional special handling of the specimens if necessary or requested (i.e. radiography, photography, special fixation, cultures and tissue procurement).
• Perform the proper operation, repair and replacement, and preventative maintenance of area equipment and tools. Maintains record logs for the equipment.
• Competent at operating the Laboratory Information System and Medical Archival Retrieval System relative to the functions of the pathology assistants team.
• Continually provides and participates in on-the-job training conferences, seminars and continuing education to ensure competence and awareness of most recent technology and advances in the field.
• Oversee the proper handling, storage and disposition of all surgical and autopsy tissue while adhering to the regulatory and compliance standards regarding biohazard and safety.