Pathologists' Assistant Surgical Grossing Room

Site: The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

 

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

 

We're offering a generous sign on bonus of $10,000 come you to our team. Recognizing and valuing exceptional talent, we're eager to discuss the exciting details of this bonus during our interview process.*

 

Job Summary

Acting Independently under Supervision of the Technical Supervisor, Surgical Pathology. Performs a wide variety of tasks related to processing human surgical pathology specimens, including:

- Gross Description and Dissection: Submitting appropriate diagnostic sections and, when necessary, reviewing cases at sign-out with a pathologist.

- Instruction and Training: Providing instruction to resident trainees and Pathologists' Assistant student interns on gross anatomy, appropriate specimen orientation, tissue selection, cryotomy, and staining for intraoperative diagnosis.

- Autopsy Suite Tasks: Handling prospecting and reporting responsibilities.
- Technical and Administrative Support: Assisting with laboratory tasks as required.

 

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities:

1. Specimen Grossing and Reporting:  
   - Perform gross description and dissection of a wide range of surgical pathology specimens.  
   - Correct and finalize gross description sections of pathology and autopsy reports.  
   - Review gross description and case materials with medical staff at sign-out.  

2. Instruction and Training: 
   - Provide formal instruction for pathology residents in surgical pathology techniques.  
   - Orient and train medical residents, students, Pathologists' Assistant interns, and less advanced technicians in Gross Room procedures.  

3. Clinical Judgment and Compliance:  
   - Exhibit clinical judgment when handling patient materials and reports.  
   - Maintain diagnostic viability of specimens and ensure compliance with labeling and regulatory standards.  

4. Specimen Handling and Diagnostics: 
   - Perform diagnostic photography and x-rays for clinical studies.  
   - Prepare frozen sections and triage tissues for fixation or special studies.  

5. Post-Mortem Examinations:  
   - Perform organ block prosection and sample tissue for histologic sections.  
   - Obtain biological specimens for further analysis during autopsies.  

6. Autopsy Documentation and Protocols:  
   - Ensure completion of autopsy documents in accordance with hospital policies and state laws.  

7. Research and Conference Support: 
   - Assist in tissue acquisition for clinical studies and research.  
   - Prepare case materials and photographic content for research, conferences, or special studies.  

8. Data Entry and Laboratory Systems:
   - Enter patient medical record information into the laboratory information system.  
   - Troubleshoot and resolve issues such as specimen mislabeling or processing errors.  

9. Equipment and Facility Management:
   - Load and activate tissue processors as needed.  
   - Maintain and operate laboratory equipment, including cryostat and staining devices.  

10. Rotational Coverage:  
    - Provide Saturday coverage for specimen grossing and Tissue Bank Pathologists’ Assistant tasks, as necessary.  

11. Safety and Compliance:
    - Maintain a clean and organized work area, ensuring adherence to safety regulations.  
    - Follow Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals and hospital policies.  

Miscellaneous Duties:
    - Actively participate in resident teaching conferences.  
    - Support frozen section labs by selecting, sectioning, and staining tissue for immediate review by pathologists.  
    - Perform any other duties as directed by the supervisor.  
 

Qualifications:

- Master’s Degree from NAACLS accredited and AAPA approved Pathologists’ Assistant Training Program required prior to date of hire.

- PA(ASCP) certification required. Recent graduates must obtain PA(ASCP) certification within 1 calendar year from date of training program completion.

- Two or more years of experience highly desired with preference in academic setting.

. *Current MGB employees or former employees (separated from the MGB organization for less than 1 year) are not elig