Physician – Chief of Pathology & Laboratory.

The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System (OCVAHCS) is actively recruiting a AP/CP board certified, board eligible full-time permanent hospital employed Pathologist.  Specifically, the provider should possess the expertise and competence to share duties in General Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology, and Clinical Pathology.   The successful candidate will be expected to participate in general surgical pathology and non-gyn cytopathology sign-outs and share AP/CP coverage and call responsibilities with three other pathologists.  The selected candidate will be expected to provide clinical and didactic teaching to pathology residents.  Participation in scholarly activities is expected with available mentoring in teaching and research skills. The Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service (PLMS) has the following responsibilities:

1. Directly or indirectly, supervises all individuals in the PLMS.
2. Completes, or supervises completion of interim and annual performance appraisals on all individuals on the PLMS ORG chart.

1. Participates in the new employee Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) process, and in the Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) process. Participate in the FPPE for cause process if required.
2. Completes, or supervises completion of, new employee FPPEs, OPPEs and FPPE for -cause) on all physicians on the PLMS ORG chart.
3. Serves as a permanent member of the Procedure, Tissue and Transfusion Quality Review Committee, and may often serve as chair of this committee.
4. Maintains familiarity with and understanding of the VA directives and rules regarding pathological analysis of tissue specimens as well as those related to operation of blood and specimen testing laboratories, blood banking, microbiology and associated disciplines, plus all safety requirements related to PLMS.
5. Organizes quality assessment and quality improvement initiatives including but not limited to a 10% retrospective review of all anatomic pathology cases. Participates in facility Quality Management activities.
6. Performs and directs others who perform coding of surgical reports with CPT and SNOMED codes
7. Recruits clinical and administrative staff to appropriately operationalize the Surgical Service strategic plan
8. Participates in VISN19 Pathology Group activities, reporting critical incidents and other required information to the VISN Chief Pathology Consultant.
9. Organizes and chairs monthly Pathology Staff meetings.
10. Participates in facility High Reliability Organization (HRO) activities.
11. Participates in selected committees as designated by the Chief of Staff (e.g. Peer Review Committee, Electronic Health Records Committee, Medical Executive Council, etc.)
12. Monitors and manages timely PLMS test result reporting.
13. Focuses efforts of entire PLMS staff to always provide the highest possible quality service.
14. Ensures that all pathology tissue reporting is completed timely with results communicated accurately and timely based on Directive and clinical compelling nature.
15. Adheres to the Medical Staff Bylaws, policies, procedures and SOPs of this facility.
16. Cooperate with other members of the medical staff to achieve high quality whole health patient care.
17. Participates in academic activities and presentations, both within and outside the medical center
18. Reports outcomes that he/she believes did not meet acceptable standards to the Chief of Staff.
19. Participates in education and training of pathology residents, medical students, and staff, as applicable.
20. Participates as requested in the facility Peer Review process.
21. Participates in completion of physician Pay for-Performance awards by developing specialty-specific metrics, sharing metrics at initiation of the performance period, and compiling results at completion of the performance period.
22. Provides consultative pathology services consistent with the ambulatory status of the OKCVAHCS.
23. Maintains BLS certification.
24. Maintains an active medical license in the United States
25. Acquires CMEs and participates in MOC as required by the individual's specialty board.
26. Travels to each VA Outpatient Clinics with laboratory staff quarterly

The OCVAMC is located in Oklahoma City, OK and is the “Flagship” for the Oklahoma VA Health Care System (OCVAHCS) - a Joint Commission accredited, referral level 1b (medium complexity) facility. The Cardiology department serves patients across the spectrum of inpatient and outpatient care for more than 70,000 veterans in an area to include in 48 counties in Oklahoma 2 counties in North Central Texas. Join a department that is expanding clinical area to better serve veteran patients!

Work Schedule

Full-time, Monday-Friday 08:00-4:30

• U.S. Citizens receive preference – non-U.S. Citizens may be considered.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in the U.S.
• Board Certified in Pathology preferred, but Board Eligibility may also be considered.

The starting pay is $320,000-$400,000 per year.

• A recruitment incentive will be offered, 25%, for 4 years and there is potential for an annual performance bonus of up to $15,000.
• Retirement: Federal Retirement Plan through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) - A three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits; 2) FERS-FRAE basic benefits (pension); and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan, with up to 5% government matching contributions
• Eligible for the Education Debt Repayment Program. (EDRP)
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives available.
• 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 days paid absence for CME)
• 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 restrictions on moonlighting
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives available
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2025, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $23,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $31,000.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

The Best Care and the Best Careers…The mission of the Veterans Healthcare System is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services. To accomplish this mission, the VA needs to be a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system that provides excellence in health care value, excellence in service as defined by its customers, and excellence in education and research, and needs to be an organization characterized by exceptional accountability and by being an employer of choice.

The Oklahoma City VAMC offers a magnitude of services… to its patient veteran population. It is a Regional Referral Center for open-heart surgery and hemodialysis and serves as a tertiary referral center for patients from Oklahoma and the surrounding states. Psychiatric programs included in the specialized medical programs offered are the Mental Health Primary Care Inpatient Unit, Day Treatment Center, Ambulatory Mental Health Clinic, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Unit (PTSD), Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine Clinic, Crisis Intervention, Substance Abuse Treatment Center (SATC), and Homeless Program. The facility also offers Audiology, Speech Pathology and Nuclear Medicine. Medical Service and Surgical Service include most of the major subspecialties.

Oklahoma City is unlike any other city in the world….Born in a single day at the sound of a gunshot, Oklahoma City was settled by a historic land run. Angelo Scott, a journalist who staked his claim in the run, wrote at the time about the spirit of the city, saying it has "an attitude that all things are possible if people are willing to take a chance and embrace the future without hesitation or reservation." Oklahoma City offers everything you look for in a modern metropolitan community an abundance of the arts, quality health care, excellence in education and more. And it does so without high costs, energy shortages, smog or traffic congestion. It is a distinctly livable city where you can chase your business dreams and still enjoy a rich quality of life.

http://www.okcchamber.com/