Pathologists Assistant

Join Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world class and caregivers are family. Here, you will work alongside a passionate and dedicated team, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world.

The Pathologists’ Assistant plays a vital role in supporting accurate and timely diagnoses by independently examining, describing, dissecting, and preparing a wide variety of surgical specimens for histologic evaluation. Working in accordance with established laboratory protocols, CLIA regulations, CAP standards, and institutional policies, this role ensures exceptional specimen handling, documentation, quality assurance, quality control, and regulatory compliance. The Pathologists’ Assistant also maintains laboratory instrumentation and equipment, identifies and resolves technical or quality concerns, and implements corrective actions when needed. 

Collaborating closely with pathologists and laboratory colleagues, the Pathologists’ Assistant helps ensure high-quality patient care and efficient laboratory operations. Additional responsibilities include assisting with fresh tissue procurement for ancillary studies, maintaining surgical pathology work areas, participating in continuing education and competency assessments, and providing instruction, mentorship, and supervision to pathology residents, Pathologists’ Assistant students, and other clinical learners. 

Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills are essential for maintaining the highest standards of laboratory quality, patient care, and operational excellence. 

A caregiver in this position works days + on-call, 10:00am—6:30pm. Call rotation for weekends and holidays.  

A caregiver who excels in this role will:   

• Perform gross examination, description, and dissection of human surgical specimens for examination, holding, transport, and shipment. 

• Assists with the preparation and procurement of fresh surgical specimens for cytologic and other ancillary studies. 

• Accurately enter and maintain accession of information, test results, and required documentation in laboratory information systems and other records. 

• Perform delegated high-complexity laboratory testing, including specimen grossing, in accordance with laboratory procedures, CLIA regulations, CAP standards, and institutional policies. 

• Follow established procedures for specimen handling, processing, testing, reporting, and record retention to ensure regulatory compliance and patient safety. 

• Perform and document quality control activities, instrument and procedural calibrations, maintenance, proficiency testing, and corrective actions in accordance with regulatory and laboratory requirements. 

• Monitor test systems, instruments, and equipment; identify issues that may affect test performance or results and take appropriate corrective action or escalate concerns to laboratory leadership. 

• Maintain instruments, equipment, and surgical pathology work areas in accordance with manufacturer specifications and laboratory standards. 

• Apply strong analytical, problem-solving, troubleshooting, organizational, and communication skills to identify opportunities for improvement and recommend solutions. 

• Participate in continuing education, professional development, and required competency assessments to maintain current knowledge and skills. 

• Provide training, supervision, mentoring, and evaluation support for pathology residents, Pathologists’ Assistant students, and other clinical learners as assigned. 

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:   

• Master’s Degree 

o Requires candidate to be a graduate of an accredited (NAACLS) Pathologists' Assistant training program and American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification eligible 

OR 

• Bachelor’s Degree in biology and chemistry with training to meet the ASCP Board of certification qualifications for Pathologists’ Assistant (PA ASCP) 

o Requires 2 years of experience as a certified Pathologists’ Assistant, PA (ASCP) 

• Diploma and/or transcripts must be provided 

• *Education outside of the United States requires diploma/transcripts translated into English and proof of foreign equivalency from by an HHS approved agency or nationally recognized organization such as NACES (National Association Credential Evaluation Services, Inc) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc) 

• Pathologists’ Assistant (PA) certification or certification eligible by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 

• Requires manual dexterity and visual acuity when handling gross specimens and utilizing instrumentation.
• Ability to safely handle potentially infectious patient specimens, carcinogenic substances, odorous and other hazardous materials to which they may be regularly exposed.
• Typical physical demands include ability to sit or stand extensively and frequent walking.
• Ability to lift and transport bodies for postmortem examinations.

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.

The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substances.

Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.

Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility. 

If applying for a Florida position, please see the following website for more information on the background screening requirements required by the Agency of Health Care Administration: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Please review the Equal Employment Opportunity poster. 

Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an equal employment opportunity employer.