University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Department: Pathology

Job Title: Pathologist’s Assistant (PA) - Instructor

Position #00602527: – Requisition #38188:

Job Summary:

The Department of Pathology is seeking a full-time (1.0 FTE) Pathologists’ Assistant (PA) at the rank of Instructor to join our team. The PA will contribute their clinical and technical expertise in surgical pathology while working under the general supervision of a faculty pathologist.

Our PA’s gross simple and complex anatomic pathology specimens from the onsite operating rooms and clinics and those from around the metro area. They interact daily with numerous health professionals of all roles for all aspects of patient care from intraoperative consultations to aiding in the resolution of interdisciplinary issues. 

An incoming PA must have a broad understanding of the day-to-day operations of the gross room and is critical in maintaining organization and efficiency.

The PA will make innumerable highly technical and important decisions on the gross description of all specimens, how the tissues are described, and which area(s) and/or anatomic features must be sampled to ensure complete and accurate diagnoses. The PA must always pay strict attention to detail and follow institutional and regulatory standards and requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

·       Gross routine and non-routine simple and complex specimens according to protocols and requirements for accurate diagnoses and consult the attending pathologist when needed.

·       Teaching grossing fundamentals and procedures to residents on surgical pathology service and act as instructor for all services and specimens at the bench.

·       Provides technical assistance for all aspects of intraoperative consultations, and regularly interacts with surgeons and pathologists to provide expedient patient care and specimen processing.

·       Frequent frozen section training, assistance, and provides coverage when numerous concurrent specimens require intraoperative consultations.

·       Triages and collects specimen samples according to proper protocols and requirements for ancillary studies (cultures, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and send out tests).

·       Ensure patient confidentiality by following the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and adhering to other departmental and hospital policies.

·       Facilitates accessioning, biopsy grossing, and frozen section coverage and support as needed.

·       Photographs and x-rays tissues for research and/or diagnostic purposes.

·       Assumes other responsibilities as directed by the supervisor

Work Location:

Onsite – this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO.

Why Join Us:

Welcome to the Department of Pathology of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The Department has grown substa