Pathology Assistant

Job Description

Job Summary:

• The Pathologists’ Assistant is primarily responsible for assisting the pathologist with surgical specimens and other related duties.
• Assists, under the supervision of the pathologist, in selection, preparation, and dissection of surgical tissue sections for routine microscopic examination, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and other studies where specified.
• Assists in photography and gross description of surgical specimens.
• Ensures accuracy of surgical specimen patient information as well as accurate gross descriptions.
• Assists in the selection and preparation of tissue sections for intraoperative consultations (frozen section), including embedding tissue, cutting tissue on a cryostat, and staining of tissue slides.
• Procures fresh tissue samples for Biorepository tissue banking, ancillary studies such as cytogenetics, flow cytometry, and/or snap freezing for both therapeutic and research purposes.
• Utilizes the Faxitron to obtain x-ray images and sends them to the PACS system.
• Performs proper maintenance of equipment, adequate supplies, and cleanliness needed in the performance of gross anatomic dissection.
• Assists the pathologist in preparing materials for both intra- and interdepartmental teaching exercises.
• Performs all computer system functions necessary to achieve timely reporting of results.
• Assists support staff and/or pathology residents with, as directed by a pathologist, the performance of a post-mortem examination including photography, external examination, situ inspection, evisceration, dissection, recording of data, and any other related task if needed.
• Lifts a minimum of 30 lbs. and stands a minimum of 5 hours a day.
• Adheres to and meets both position-specific yearly competency assessments and the standards identified in the Medical Center’s Organizational Competencies.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to Client Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from a NAACLS-accredited institution as a pathologist’s assistant with training that must include both didactic lectures and on-site clinical training in anatomic pathology, specifically surgical and autopsy pathology.
• Bachelor’s degree must be in Health Sciences or other biological discipline.

License Required:

• ASCP certification as an on-the-job trained PA in a hospital laboratory performing technical duties relating to anatomic pathology with documented competencies in prosecution of simple to complex specimens.
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)..

Required Skills & Experience: –

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience.
• Required Pathology Assistant experience, either PA master’s degree or 5+ years’ experience of grossing high complexing specimens.
• Frozen section experiences preferred, but not mandatory.