OVERVIEW:

VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS) is looking for a Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (Chief, PLMS), to provide administrative, clinical, and programmatic leadership for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine service. VANJHCS is an integrated system consisting of two Veterans Health Administration facilities located in East Orange and Lyons, New Jersey and also has ten Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located throughout the state. The CBOCs are located in Brick, Elizabeth, Hackensack, Hamilton, Jersey City, Morristown, Paterson, Piscataway, Sussex and Tinton Falls. There are a total of 157 operating beds in acute medical, surgical, psychiatric and spinal cord injury; 251 Nursing Home Care beds; 179 domiciliary beds, and 12 Psychiatric Residential Rehabilitation beds across both main campuses. VANJHCS treats 57,000+ unique Veterans annually resulting in 744,300 outpatient visits and 5,400 inpatient discharges. VANJHCS is affiliated with the New Jersey Medical School of Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and provides education to over 400 trainees annually, including medical students, pathology residents, nursing students, and social work interns.  

The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service offers inpatient and outpatient lab sampling associated with an extensive menu of clinical laboratory tests and diagnostic studies. Additionally, PLMS is involved in educational activities throughout the medical center including interdisciplinary seminars, tumor boards, and autopsy conferences.

Also, the Service is actively involved in the training of medical students, residents, and other health-related professionals. Residents from the New Jersey Medical School of Rutgers University, Pathology Residency Program, rotate through Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at VA New Jersey. Medical students from New Jersey Medical School attend didactic conferences that include teaching by PLMS staff. Students from the Medical Technology program rotate through the clinical laboratories for training. A number of PLMS employees have faculty appointments at various area Universities/Medical Schools for lecturing and meeting purposes.

DUTIES:

The Chief, PLMS provides administrative, clinical, and programmatic leadership for the PLMS to ensure achievement of the clinical, research, and education goals and applicable performance measures. The Chief, PLMS is accountable for the delivery of all health care by the PLMS staff. They are responsible for developing a plan for the delivery of health services to patients and assessing that those health care services are consistent with the policies and guidelines of the Veterans Health Administration. Additionally, the Incumbent establishes an environment within the service that promotes optimum patient care. The Chief, PLMS participates in top-level decision making and policy design that impacts on PLMS through collaboration with Medical Center administration, other service chiefs, and interdepartmental Supervisors. The Chief, PLMS directs health care programs, delegating authority, and responsibility to meet both the medical center and service goals. They are responsible for the fiscal management of the department including budget planning and management. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as a key clinical resource for the Medical Center Director and the Chief of Staff.

The Chief of Pathology and Laboratory is an integral part of the key leadership team of the medical center. The Chief, PLMS is expected to remain privileged and provide clinical services in his/her specialty field. They ensure practice-based learning and improvement, demonstrates ability to use scientific evidence and methods to investigate, evaluate, and improve patient care and delivery of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine services. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills and behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, understanding and sensitivity to diversity, and a responsible attitude toward their patients and profession. The successful candidate demonstrates an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided as well as the ability to apply that knowledge to improve and optimize health care.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Work schedule may vary depending on the needs of the PLMS Service

Conditions of employment

• Must pass pre-employment examination.
• Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
• Background and/or Security Investigation required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5005, Part III, Chapter 2, paragraph 7, and VA Handbook 5019, Occupational Health Services. Work is mostly sedentary in nature. Work requires moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:  

• Must be a Citizen of the United States
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine.
• Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

Requirements for Service Chief:

A Service Chief Physician must demonstrate the following:

• Outstanding professional ability in the practice of medicine or a medical specialty;
• Ability to guide the development and implementation of programs within their respective domain. These programs would include, but are not limited to medical practice, professional standards, personnel issues, quality and performance improvement.

Preferred Experience:

• Management Degree: Such as MBA, MPH, or MHA
• Specialty: Board Certification in Anatomical and Clinical Pathology
• Research: Academic appointment and research experience with publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Must demonstrate the principles of servant leadership and be transparent, cooperative and collaborative.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).  Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.  You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

 

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard.  This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be reviewed.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific.  We may not make assumptions regarding your experience. 

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), or 10pt (CP/CPS, XPP, XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP), on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section(s) provided. A legible copy of your DD214(s), disability certification, SF-15 (if claiming 10 pt. preference) or if you are currently serving on active duty and expected to be released or discharged within 120 days; documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation. Documentation is required to award preference. (See "Required Documents" section).

NOTE:  Applicant's education and length of practice (experience) will be considered by a Compensation Panel in determining the salary of the applicant selected.