Pathologists' Assistant Supervisor, Anatomic Surgical Pathology, BC Children's and Women's Hospital and Health Centre Position

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Pathologists' Assistant Supervisor to join our team at BC Children's and Women's Hospital and Health Centre. The successful candidate will be responsible for supervising staff, coordinating day-to-day work activities, and prioritizing tasks. They will also be responsible for implementing orientation and training programs for new staff and students.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise staff by performing duties such as coordinating the day-to-day work activities and prioritization of activities, organizes and implements orientation and training programs for new staff and students.
• Supervise technical grossing activities within the Gross Room to bench Prosectionists and grossing technologists and provides oversight and assistance to grossing staff for:
  • Grossing and dictation of surgical, and biopsy tissue specimens.
  • Preparing tissues for microscopic examination for intraoperative consultation.
  • Responsible to create, evaluate and implement new procedures/processes, equipment and instrumentation, dissection techniques and to ensure staff is instructed in their use.
  • Maintaining extensive knowledge in dissection and dictation techniques/procedures and laboratory operation in order to evaluate, recommend and/or implement change.
  • Assuring appropriate specimen accessioning and preparation.
  • Gathering and organize pertinent clinical information and history including x-rays, scans, reports, operative records, photographs, laboratory testing results.
  • Data entry into Laboratory Information System and generation of reports/labels including accession labels, worksheets, reports, logs.
  • Performing technical gross dissection of all specimen types and complexities (L4E Levels I to VI).
  • Preparing specimens for special procedures and referred out testing such as lymphoma protocol, cytogenetic studies, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry as required.
  • Performing specimen photography, mapping sections and generating diagrams when appropriate.
  • Maintenance of Gross Room protocols/procedures, reports and data.
  • Assuring proper maintenance of equipment and adequate volume of supplies.
  • Maintaining a clean and disinfected technical work area and related instrumentation according to established guidelines.
  • Managing proper storage and disposal of biological specimens.
  • Ensuring resolution of technical problems referred by staff.
  • Meet with sales and technical representatives as requested.
  • Ensuring Gross Room compliance with requirements for accurate and thoroughly documented quality control, quality assurance, instrument maintenance and service records, investigating and following up on quality measures/monitors.
  • Supervise the technical functions within the Morgue including specimen handling, dissections, staff and resident training and evaluation as well as quality control/improvement programs and provides oversight and assistance to morgue staff for:
    • Verifying proper legal authorization for autopsy.
    • Assuring proper transport, completeness of documentation and identification of decedents entering and leaving the morgue.
    • Preparing the morgue suite and required tools, instrumentation and sample containers for post mortem examination.
    • Performing adult and pediatric post-mortem examinations including: external examinations, in-situ organ inspection, evisceration, dissection and dictation as required.
    • Obtaining biological specimens such as blood tissue and toxicological fluids/materials.
    • Performing special autopsy techniques such as spinal cord removal as required.
    • Assisting the pathologist and/or residents throughout the autopsy.
    • Proper cleaning and disinfection of the morgue and related instrumentation and tools after a post-mortem examination according to established guidelines.
    • Performing specimen photography.
    • Liaising with Diagnostic Imaging to coordinate post-mortem imaging.
    • Assuring proper maintenance of equipment and an adequate volume of supplies.
    • Liaising with provincial and out of province coroners offices.
    • Develop operational guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure that the standards for quality are maintained. Provide leadership to technical and clerical staff on practice and operational issues through problem resolution.
    • Participating in interviewing and selection of new staff. Participating in the annual performance appraisal process. Providing support, coaching and performance feedback to employees. Investigating employee performance matters where corrective action or discipline is required. Issue discipline.
    • Responsible for the training of all new medical students, residents and students from the Pathologists' Assistant program.
    • Conducting independent research work under the supervision of a Pathologist and presenting the results/findings at scientific conferences, seminars, in laboratory meetings or in related settings.
    • Collaborating with relevant departments to assess the impact of research projects and establishing internal process for handling research activity.

Requirements

• Certification or eligible for certification with Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists' Assistants (CCCPA).
• Graduation from an approved Master's Pathologist Assistant Program, plus three (3) years' recent surgical and autopsy pathology experience, including one (1) year of supervisory/management experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the standards of practice and guidelines for Pathologist's Assistants established by the CCCPA and/or other relevant national professional associations.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a team member, leader, teacher, motivator, and facilitator and to coach and deal with others effectively and in a supportive manner.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with co-workers, medical personnel and other healthcare staff, both one-to-one and in groups.
• Familiarity with principles of diagnostic anatomic pathology.
• Diligence, meticulousness and exceptional organizational skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of organization policies, procedures, and standards of care, including practice of safe work procedures with discipline equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and benchmarks while consistently displaying a high level of attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated customer service skills in assessing and meeting the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with all levels of scientific and clinical faculty, staff, trainees, and patients.
• Demonstrated ability to work with deceased patients.
• Demonstrated ability to work with sensitive information and data in a discrete and professional manner.
• Commitment to develop knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents – including Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study – and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

About Us

PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position). We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources. Join one of BC's largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees. Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles. Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources. Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement. Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more. We are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment. One of PHSA's North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at . Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.