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The Lead Pathologists Assistant (PA), reporting to the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory Manager, serves as the primary technical expert for all Pathologists Assistants (PA) and Laboratory Technical Assistants (LTA) within the Grossing section of Anatomic Pathology. In this capacity, the Lead PA provides advanced technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship, ensuring optimal specimen processing and reference laboratory workflows and strict adherence to quality, safety, and regulatory standards across the grossing team.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Laboratory Medical Director, the Lead Pathologists Assistant is a highly skilled professional responsible for performing gross examinations on a diverse range of specimens. These include complex oncologic cases such as pancreas, breast, bladder, uterus, and ovary as well as routine benign resections and biopsies. Serving as a critical liaison between pathologists and operational leadership, the Lead PA independently makes grossing decisions, resolves specimen-related issues, manages grossing workflows, and ensures efficiency throughout the laboratory.

A. Primary Responsibilities
Tasks that must be done for the job to serve its purpose

• • Supervise Grossing Room and Histology Accessioning Operations: Oversee daily workflow, including supply management, equipment maintenance, and instrumentation functionality to ensure efficient operations.
  • Perform Technical PA Duties: Carry out core Pathologists Assistant responsibilities as needed, such as specimen accessioning, intraoperative consultations (e.g., frozen sections and staining), triage, gross examination, dictation, and specimen photography.
  • Ensure Protocol Adherence: Apply expert knowledge of grossing protocols to maintain high standards of quality, accuracy, and productivity.
  • Oversee Policies, Competency, and Quality Programs: Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of PA and LTA policies and procedures, competency assessments, and quality assurance initiatives.
  • Support Autopsy Services: Participate in autopsy procedures as required.
  • Exercise Independent Judgment: Make autonomous decisions regarding grossing and specimen processing with minimal supervision.
  • Utilize Laboratory Information Systems: Operate the Anatomic Pathology information system proficiently to streamline and support laboratory operations.
  • Surgical Specimen Dissection and Processing:

Verify accurate specimen identification and accessioning.

Gather relevant clinical history (e.g., imaging, lab data) in consultation with pathologists.

Collaborate with pathologists to describe gross anatomical features, including specimen dimensions, anatomical structures, and disease characteristics (e.g., tumor size, margins).

Dissect surgical specimens and prepare tissue for processing, including immunofluorescent microscopy.

Maintain and update surgical pathology protocol manuals in compliance with regulatory standards.

Oversee equipment maintenance, supply inventory, and cleanliness of the grossing room.

• Support Quality Control and Assurance: Ensure accurate documentation and adherence to quality standards across all processes.

B. Non-Primary Responsibilities
Additional tasks that support the work but aren't required to meet the core goals of the role

• Postmortem Examination Support: Review patient charts and relevant data for case preparation; coordinate with pathologists to determine required techniques and notify involved personnel.
• Under pathologist supervision with the assistance of a diener, perform postmortem examinations, including external inspection, in situ organ review, evisceration, dissection, and documentation of findings (e.g., organ weights, fluid presence, gross abnormalities).
• Assist in compiling clinical history summaries for preliminary autopsy reports.
• Ensure proper body release procedures, including restoration and biohazard identification.
• Maintain autopsy protocol manuals and ensure photographic and microscopic records are archived per regulatory guidelines.
• Manage equipment, supplies, and cleanliness of the autopsy suite.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Anatomic Pathology Manager and Laboratory Director.