Pathologist

Role Overview

You will lead diagnostic pathology services in a busy hospital or accredited laboratory environment, ensuring that every specimen is processed, interpreted, and reported to a standard that directly influences patient management. Your day-to-day work sits at the intersection of laboratory science and clinical practice: you validate complex results, guide requesting clinicians on appropriate test strategies, and help maintain the operational rigour needed for accreditation under KENAS and SANAS. Beyond reporting, you will play a visible role in shaping laboratory quality, mentoring junior staff, and participating in clinical discussions that translate laboratory findings into better patient outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret, validate, and authorise results across core pathology disciplines, including haematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunology, and molecular diagnostics, ensuring reports are accurate, clear, and clinically actionable.
• Provide specialist input in histo-cytopathology cases where applicable, supporting tissue-based diagnosis and contributing to multidisciplinary discussions.
• Identify and communicate critical or unexpected results to treating clinicians without delay, explaining the clinical significance and recommending next steps when appropriate.
• Serve as a consultant to medical staff on the selection, interpretation, and limitations of laboratory investigations, particularly for complex or discordant findings.
• Champion compliance with laboratory standard operating procedures, safety standards, and all regulatory requirements tied to KENAS and SANAS accreditation, including document control and traceability.
• Monitor daily operational metrics such as turnaround times, rejection rates, critical result notification rates, and other performance indicators, then act on trends to prevent recurrence of errors.
• Oversee the laboratory’s participation in external quality assurance schemes, reviewing performance reports and leading corrective actions where performance falls below expected benchmarks.
• Contribute to antimicrobial stewardship and patient safety initiatives by helping to interpret culture and sensitivity data and promoting appropriate use of laboratory evidence in clinical decisions.
• Lead or participate in internal audits, incident investigations, and root-cause analyses, and translate findings into tangible quality improvement actions.
• Facilitate continuing medical education sessions, deliver formal and bedside teaching, and mentor laboratory technologists and junior medical staff to strengthen the whole diagnostic team.

Requirements & Qualifications

• MBChB or equivalent medical degree from a recognised institution, followed by an MMed or equivalent postgraduate qualification in General Pathology or Clinical Pathology that confers specialist recognition.
• Current registration with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) as a specialist pathologist, alongside a valid practising licence for the relevant period.
• At least five years of hands-on, post-specialisation experience within a hospital laboratory or an accredited diagnostic facility, with demonstrated independence in reporting complex pathology cases.
• Broad diagnostic competence across haematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunology, and molecular diagnostics; additional exposure to histo-cytopathology is a distinct advantage.
• Familiarity with ISO or accreditation standards analogous to KENAS/SANAS, including quality control procedures, EQA schemes, and laboratory auditing practices.
• Strong clinical judgement, the ability to prioritise urgent findings, and the confidence to articulate nuanced diagnostic reasoning to clinicians from varied specialties.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with a collaborative approach to teaching, consultation, and multidisciplinary teamwork.
• Demonstrated leadership in problem identification, process improvement, and incident investigation within a regulated laboratory setting.
• Meticulous attention to detail, uncompromising professional integrity, and a visible personal commitment to continuous professional learning and quality enhancement.