4 answers
Sarah
Student
West Lafayette, Indiana
1
Question
Asked
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What exactly do pathologists do and how do you become one?
I'm a junior in high school, and I'm not sure what to major in for college. I have found interest in pathology. It seems very cool to research and investigate what disease someone could have. I enjoy chemistry and biology and I think I want to major in something related to science.
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4 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1209
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Sarah!
It's great to hear that you're interested in pathology! Pathologists play a crucial role in diagnosing diseases and guiding treatment plans. Here’s a breakdown of what pathologists do and the steps to become one:
What Pathologists Do:
1. Diagnose Diseases: Pathologists examine tissues, cells, and organs to diagnose diseases. They use laboratory tests, microscopic examination, and molecular biology techniques.
2. Autopsies: Conduct autopsies to determine the cause of death and understand disease processes.
3. Laboratory Management: Oversee clinical laboratories and ensure accurate testing and reporting of lab results.
4. Research: Conduct research to advance knowledge in disease mechanisms, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies.
5. Collaboration: Work closely with other healthcare professionals, providing insights that aid in patient management and treatment.
How to Become a Pathologist:
1. High School: Focus on science courses, especially biology and chemistry. Participate in science clubs or related extracurricular activities.
2. College: Major in a science-related field, such as biology, chemistry, or biochemistry. Gain research experience and perform well academically to prepare for medical school.
3. Medical School: Complete a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program, which typically takes four years.
4. Residency: After medical school, complete a residency in pathology, which usually lasts 3-4 years. There are different sub-specialties in pathology, such as anatomical pathology, clinical pathology, and forensic pathology.
5. Board Certification: After completing your residency, you’ll need to pass board exams to become a certified pathologist.
6. Fellowships: Optional additional training in a sub-specialty area, such as surgical pathology, cytopathology, or hematopathology.
Tips to Succeed:
- Networking: Connect with professionals in the field through internships, shadowing, or professional organizations.
- Stay Curious: Continue learning and staying updated with advancements in medical science and pathology.
- Communication Skills: Develop strong communication skills, as pathologists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
Pathology is a fascinating and impactful field. Your love for chemistry and biology will serve you well on this journey. Keep exploring, asking questions, and seeking opportunities to learn more about the field.
Best of luck with your future studies and career! You've got an exciting path ahead.
It's great to hear that you're interested in pathology! Pathologists play a crucial role in diagnosing diseases and guiding treatment plans. Here’s a breakdown of what pathologists do and the steps to become one:
What Pathologists Do:
1. Diagnose Diseases: Pathologists examine tissues, cells, and organs to diagnose diseases. They use laboratory tests, microscopic examination, and molecular biology techniques.
2. Autopsies: Conduct autopsies to determine the cause of death and understand disease processes.
3. Laboratory Management: Oversee clinical laboratories and ensure accurate testing and reporting of lab results.
4. Research: Conduct research to advance knowledge in disease mechanisms, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies.
5. Collaboration: Work closely with other healthcare professionals, providing insights that aid in patient management and treatment.
How to Become a Pathologist:
1. High School: Focus on science courses, especially biology and chemistry. Participate in science clubs or related extracurricular activities.
2. College: Major in a science-related field, such as biology, chemistry, or biochemistry. Gain research experience and perform well academically to prepare for medical school.
3. Medical School: Complete a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program, which typically takes four years.
4. Residency: After medical school, complete a residency in pathology, which usually lasts 3-4 years. There are different sub-specialties in pathology, such as anatomical pathology, clinical pathology, and forensic pathology.
5. Board Certification: After completing your residency, you’ll need to pass board exams to become a certified pathologist.
6. Fellowships: Optional additional training in a sub-specialty area, such as surgical pathology, cytopathology, or hematopathology.
Tips to Succeed:
- Networking: Connect with professionals in the field through internships, shadowing, or professional organizations.
- Stay Curious: Continue learning and staying updated with advancements in medical science and pathology.
- Communication Skills: Develop strong communication skills, as pathologists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
Pathology is a fascinating and impactful field. Your love for chemistry and biology will serve you well on this journey. Keep exploring, asking questions, and seeking opportunities to learn more about the field.
Best of luck with your future studies and career! You've got an exciting path ahead.
This was very helpful! Thank you for answering my question!
Sarah
You're welcome!
Chinyere Okafor
Mark Brissette
Pathologist (Physician)
3
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Mark’s Answer
I'm a pathologist and I agree with what has been said. Since you enjoy science, majoring in an area of science in college seems to fit you and would be helpful for medical school and eventually Pathology residency. Biology, Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry would all be good majors. Choose whichever best fits you. But make sure you take some classes outside of science that you are interested in. They help you become a more well rounded person. Pathology is a broad field but all areas involve investigating and diagnosing or helping to diagnose disease. Transfusion Medicine/Blood Banking even involves treatment of disease as well as diagnosis.
Here are areas that pathologists are involved in: Anatomic Pathology: surgical pathology (using a microscope to diagnose tissue taken out during surgery or a smaller biopsy), cytology (diagnosing disease from cells taken by a needle and syringe or scraping a lesion/tissue), autopsy. Clinical Pathology: hematopathology (diagnosing disease in blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes, and similar diseases that may affect other organs. Also includes bleeding and clotting disorders and disorders of hemoglobin), transfusion medicine/blood banking (overseeing taking blood from blood donors, transfusion of blood to people, removal of specifi blood cells from people), clinical chemistry (using chemical reactions and techniques and machines to provide diagnoses and information to treating physicians), microbiology (helping diagnose infections and guiding treatment with antibiotics), molecular pathology (using DNA and RNA studies to make diagnoses and guide medical treatment).
Besides diagnosing disease, pathologists can do medical research; teach medical students, residents, fellows, and medical technology students and practitioners; manage laboratories (laboratory administration/management).
Here are areas that pathologists are involved in: Anatomic Pathology: surgical pathology (using a microscope to diagnose tissue taken out during surgery or a smaller biopsy), cytology (diagnosing disease from cells taken by a needle and syringe or scraping a lesion/tissue), autopsy. Clinical Pathology: hematopathology (diagnosing disease in blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes, and similar diseases that may affect other organs. Also includes bleeding and clotting disorders and disorders of hemoglobin), transfusion medicine/blood banking (overseeing taking blood from blood donors, transfusion of blood to people, removal of specifi blood cells from people), clinical chemistry (using chemical reactions and techniques and machines to provide diagnoses and information to treating physicians), microbiology (helping diagnose infections and guiding treatment with antibiotics), molecular pathology (using DNA and RNA studies to make diagnoses and guide medical treatment).
Besides diagnosing disease, pathologists can do medical research; teach medical students, residents, fellows, and medical technology students and practitioners; manage laboratories (laboratory administration/management).
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Ah, thinking about becoming a pathologist? Welcome to the world of medical detectives—minus the dramatic car chases, but with way more microscopes and petri dishes. Pathologists are the folks who figure out what’s wrong with you by examining body samples (not quite CSI, but pretty close). They’re the ones who examine blood, tissues, and other samples to uncover what disease might be lurking. If you like chemistry and biology, it’s like being a superhero, but instead of saving the world from aliens, you’re saving lives by uncovering diseases.
So, how do you become one of these lab coat-wearing, mystery-solving professionals? Well, here’s your path (pun fully intended):
1. Bachelor’s Degree: Think of this like the first chapter in your Pathology Novel. You’ll want to major in something science-y, like Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry. Why? Because pathologists need a lot of science knowledge to be able to solve the “case” (diseases). You already love chemistry and biology? You’re ahead of the game!
Tip: Get super good at science now—seriously, your future self will thank you. Take all the bio and chem classes you can (because knowing the periodic table is cooler than you think).
2. Medical School: Now, here's the plot twist—becoming a pathologist isn’t just about solving the case, it’s about being a doctor. This means you’ll need to go through medical school, which typically takes four years. It’s where you get to be trained in everything from how the human body works to how to survive on caffeine.
Tip: Start practicing your “doctor handwriting” (you know, the one where even you can’t read it). It’s a rite of passage.
3. Residency: After med school, you’ll spend about 3-4 years doing a residency in pathology. Think of it as your apprenticeship where you learn the art of diagnosing diseases, but without the pressure of having to do it all by yourself. You’ll study a lot of stuff like tissue samples, blood work, and pathology reports.
Tip: While you’re in residency, you’ll need to be a problem-solving ninja—patients' lives are on the line, so focus on learning the fine details and practicing your diagnostic skills. It’s like the ultimate brain game.
4. Board Certification: After your residency, you'll take exams to get certified as a pathologist. Passing these exams means you can officially say, “I’m a pathologist!” It’s like getting a black belt in “disease diagnosis.”
Tip: Don’t panic! These exams are tough, but remember, the path to certification is just one more step toward saving lives and solving mysteries.
---
Skills and Tips to Succeed:
Attention to Detail: In pathology, tiny details can make the difference between diagnosing correctly or missing something important. It’s like being Sherlock Holmes but with microscopes.
Patience: This job requires a lot of waiting and analyzing, sometimes for hours. It’s like waiting for a cake to bake, except you’re waiting to uncover the disease cake inside the tissue.
Strong Analytical Skills: You’ll need to look at samples and find patterns that tell you what’s wrong. It's like playing a super intense game of "Guess the Disease" with very serious consequences (so, no pressure).
Communication: You’ll need to communicate your findings to doctors and patients clearly, often in a way that’s understandable—so you can feel like a superhero who can actually explain what's going on.
Why Pathology?
Because it’s a rewarding, challenging, and essential field! If you love science and solving problems (like detective-style problem-solving), pathology is where you get to do it all, without having to chase criminals through alleys.
In short: You’ll spend years learning, diagnosing, and contributing to medical science. And, bonus, your friends will be impressed when you drop the word “pathologist” at a party. So, if you love science and want to be the one who cracks the case of diseases, this is your path!
So, how do you become one of these lab coat-wearing, mystery-solving professionals? Well, here’s your path (pun fully intended):
1. Bachelor’s Degree: Think of this like the first chapter in your Pathology Novel. You’ll want to major in something science-y, like Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry. Why? Because pathologists need a lot of science knowledge to be able to solve the “case” (diseases). You already love chemistry and biology? You’re ahead of the game!
Tip: Get super good at science now—seriously, your future self will thank you. Take all the bio and chem classes you can (because knowing the periodic table is cooler than you think).
2. Medical School: Now, here's the plot twist—becoming a pathologist isn’t just about solving the case, it’s about being a doctor. This means you’ll need to go through medical school, which typically takes four years. It’s where you get to be trained in everything from how the human body works to how to survive on caffeine.
Tip: Start practicing your “doctor handwriting” (you know, the one where even you can’t read it). It’s a rite of passage.
3. Residency: After med school, you’ll spend about 3-4 years doing a residency in pathology. Think of it as your apprenticeship where you learn the art of diagnosing diseases, but without the pressure of having to do it all by yourself. You’ll study a lot of stuff like tissue samples, blood work, and pathology reports.
Tip: While you’re in residency, you’ll need to be a problem-solving ninja—patients' lives are on the line, so focus on learning the fine details and practicing your diagnostic skills. It’s like the ultimate brain game.
4. Board Certification: After your residency, you'll take exams to get certified as a pathologist. Passing these exams means you can officially say, “I’m a pathologist!” It’s like getting a black belt in “disease diagnosis.”
Tip: Don’t panic! These exams are tough, but remember, the path to certification is just one more step toward saving lives and solving mysteries.
---
Skills and Tips to Succeed:
Attention to Detail: In pathology, tiny details can make the difference between diagnosing correctly or missing something important. It’s like being Sherlock Holmes but with microscopes.
Patience: This job requires a lot of waiting and analyzing, sometimes for hours. It’s like waiting for a cake to bake, except you’re waiting to uncover the disease cake inside the tissue.
Strong Analytical Skills: You’ll need to look at samples and find patterns that tell you what’s wrong. It's like playing a super intense game of "Guess the Disease" with very serious consequences (so, no pressure).
Communication: You’ll need to communicate your findings to doctors and patients clearly, often in a way that’s understandable—so you can feel like a superhero who can actually explain what's going on.
Why Pathology?
Because it’s a rewarding, challenging, and essential field! If you love science and solving problems (like detective-style problem-solving), pathology is where you get to do it all, without having to chase criminals through alleys.
In short: You’ll spend years learning, diagnosing, and contributing to medical science. And, bonus, your friends will be impressed when you drop the word “pathologist” at a party. So, if you love science and want to be the one who cracks the case of diseases, this is your path!
Bright Komor
Nurse
260
Answers
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Updated
Bright’s Answer
Pathologists are doctors who diagnose diseases by examining tissues, body fluids, and cells under a microscope. They work in hospitals and laboratories, helping determine illnesses' causes and performing autopsies to investigate causes of death. Pathologists also engage in research to understand disease processes better, leading to improved treatments and preventive strategies. To become a pathologist, one must complete undergraduate education in a science-related major, such as biology, chemistry, or pre-med. After obtaining a bachelor's degree, one must attend medical school to obtain an MD or DO, covering basic medical sciences and clinical skills. After graduation, a 3--4 year residency program in pathology is required, focusing on anatomical and clinical pathology. If a subspecialty is desired, additional fellowship training can be pursued. After completing residency and fellowship, board certification is required. Majoring in a science field in college can prepare for the pre-med track and medical school. Staying curious about diseases and gaining hands-on lab experience through research opportunities or internships is also beneficial.