Physicians, Pathologists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
What you’d do
- Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
- Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
- Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
- Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
- Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
- Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
- Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
Skills that matter
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
How to get there
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Also called
- Anatomic Pathologist
- Dermatopathologist
- Forensic Pathologist
- Pathologist
- Cytopathologist
- Hematopathologist
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