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Summary The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is seeking the Director of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS). The Director of PLMS must be a proven leader and an experienced , fully trained pathologist, board certified in Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. Dual certification strongly preferred. Minneapolis VA Health Care System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the Midwest VA Health Care Network. Responsibilities The Director of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) is responsible for the clinical operations and administrative functions of all sections within PLMS, including Anatomic Pathology, Chemistry, Microbiology/Molecular Biology, Blood Bank/Hematology/Coagulation, Toxicology, Flow Cytometry , Ancillary Testing and Laboratory Information Management. The Director of PLMS also is responsible for supervision of the physician staff in these sections of PLMS. The Director, P&LMS must be an experienced, fully trained pathologist, board certified in Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. Duties The Director of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) specific duties include the following functions but are not limited to: Responsibility for meeting all clinical performance measures and monitors relating to PLMS and assisting the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS) when possible in meeting all others. Collaborate with MVAHCS leadership in identifying strategic opportunities and initiatives. Serve on MVAHCS, VISN and VA national committees and workgroups related to PLMS issues and initiatives. Serve as the primary liaison for common interests between the VA and University of Minnesota School of Medicine, and specifically the University of Minnesota Department of Pathology. Clinical Duties: This position is both administrative and clinical in nature, the incumbent will have a majority of their time (51%) in a clinical role as appropriate to their clinical discipline and specialty area. Leadership within PLMS: The incumbent will determine goals, priorities and direction for the Service and clinical operations and will be responsible for assigning duties to staff within PLMS. The incumbent will conduct regular meetings to keep staff abreast of all clinical business, policies, procedures, goals, priorities and directions. Working with the PLMS Laboratory Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for the development of position descriptions and competencies for the direct report staff, along with the development and completion of performance standards and appraisals. The incumbent will address grievances, apply disciplinary policies and nominate incentive awards in all matters concerning PLMS staff members. Leadership within the MVAHCS: The incumbent will participate in wide-range and higher-level management functions for PLMS through participation and planning in operational boards, councils and committees throughout the MVAHCS, on campus and in the VISN. The incumbent will develop and maintain continuing programs in the area of organizational improvement, continuing education and other quality improvement activities. The incumbent will assume active leadership at the VISN and/or national level regarding professional, management and health care delivery issues as required The Director of PLMS works collaboratively with clinical service chiefs and Integrated Clinical Community (ICC) directors, supervisory staff, and frontline staff in other services and ICCs to effect organizational improvement and participates in national and VISN organizational activities as called upon. The Director of PLMS is also highly supportive of our educational and research missions. The incumbent is responsible for having oversight of all house staff and medical student training activities in PLMS. The Director of PLMS is also responsible for working with the Associate Chief of Staff for Research to assure, where applicable, that PLMS physician investigators with protected time for research have a proper balance of clinical and research activities and utilize their research time effectively and productively, obtaining VA Merit Review and other grant funding within reasonable timeframes. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800 - 4:30PM Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. 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. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Dual Board Certification strongly preferred. 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. Physical Requirements: his position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Education Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.