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Martha
Student
College Park, Maryland
4
Questions
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What is the most important skill someone needs to be a forensic pathologist?
What specific education is required? How much is the typical salary range?
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1 answer
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
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Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Martha,
A forensic pathologist is a medical doctor who has specialized by doing a residency in pathology and a fellowship in forensic pathology.
So, you'd get a bachelors degree (4 years), go to medical school (4 years), do a pathology residency (4 years for a combined anatomic and clinical pathology program) and a fellowship in forensic pathology (1-2 years). Add in tests, exams, board certification. It's going to be looong. Most of these steps are moderately to very competitive.
Skills you need as a forensic pathologist: Vast knowledge in a range of medical specialties, curiosity, attention to detail and meticulous lab skills (preparation and analytics), critical and analytical thinking skills, communication skills to write clear reports and/or testify in court, physical and mental strength, ethics and integrity, emotional intelligence.
Remember: your patient can't tell you anything any more, but they are still your patient and deserve your best effort.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/how-to-become-a-forensic-pathologist
https://www.residencyprogramslist.com/pathology-anatomic-and-clinical
A forensic pathologist is a medical doctor who has specialized by doing a residency in pathology and a fellowship in forensic pathology.
So, you'd get a bachelors degree (4 years), go to medical school (4 years), do a pathology residency (4 years for a combined anatomic and clinical pathology program) and a fellowship in forensic pathology (1-2 years). Add in tests, exams, board certification. It's going to be looong. Most of these steps are moderately to very competitive.
Skills you need as a forensic pathologist: Vast knowledge in a range of medical specialties, curiosity, attention to detail and meticulous lab skills (preparation and analytics), critical and analytical thinking skills, communication skills to write clear reports and/or testify in court, physical and mental strength, ethics and integrity, emotional intelligence.
Remember: your patient can't tell you anything any more, but they are still your patient and deserve your best effort.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
What's the hardest part of being a forensic pathologist that people don't expect?
Martha