Pathology Jobs

This area is about Pathology jobs including their qualifications and specializations.

What is Pathology?

Pathology is the study of disease and its causes, development, and consequences. A Pathologist is a scientist or physician who interprets and diagnoses changes in tissues and body fluids caused by disease.

What Do Pathologists Do?

Pathologists apply laboratory tests to study and diagnose diseases and possible sources of infection from body fluids, tissues and other specimens. Pathologists analyze laboratory data, keep excellent records, take samples for clinical examination, keep track of property, manage the mortuary and post-mortem room and keep it well maintained. Pathologists are responsible for keeping equipment and instruments clean, sterile and ready for use. They are also responsible for keeping proper documentation and following all legal procedures.

Pathologists perform many laboratory assessments. Blood sample, biopsies or cervical smears are analyzed by Pathologists. Pathologists provide analytical services, such as measuring serum electrolytes, indices of liver function, hormones, and drugs in hundreds of samples daily. Only Pathologists who are also medical doctors can be responsible for direct patient care. Forensic pathologists perform autopsies, understanding the cause of death can help promote good health in others. Sometimes their work is used in court cases.

What do qualifications do Pathologists need?

Morticians, and other Pathologists who address the public, need self-confidence, a high level of motivation and self-discipline, compassion and good human relations skills. The Pathologist is often the liaison between the police and the family of the deceased.

Biomedical scientists may become Pathologists at the entry level after an appropriate science undergraduate degree. They specialize in a particular pathology specialty and provide laboratory technical services.

Some Pathologists are doctors, but most are scientists with pathology training and education.

Fully qualified pathologists may become consultants in their field of specialization.

Clinical scientists have a research degree or PhD. Their training beyond the basic undergraduate science level requires about three years of specialized pathology education followed by four or more years of training as a specialist. Their role is to provide leadership in the laboratory or to become medical consultants.

What areas do Pathologists cover in their courses?

Prospective pathologists need a science background. Basic training for a Pathology technician is assisting the Pathologist and other fully trained technicians with their work. A minimum of 40 hours of coursework is expected to begin the basic entry level. Entry level coursework includes anatomy and physiology, post-mortem room techniques, hygiene, hazards and precautions, legislation and codes of practice, and administration and documentation. A complete program requires a period of two years. Certification exams follow.

What areas of specialization may Pathologists choose?

Forensic pathology is concerned with the investigation of deaths when legal implications are involved, such as suspected homicides, sudden unexplained death, and the like.

Primary specialties for Pathologists include prenatal pathology and pediatric pathology

Chemical pathology addresses the biochemical basis of disease and the use of biochemical tests for diagnosis and treatment.

Where do Pathologists work?

Pathologists work at laboratories, hospitals, universities, industries or governmental agencies. Most pathologists work in hospital clinics and laboratories and conduct the laboratory assessments to help physicians interpret the condition of their patients.

Online Resources:

www.riphh.org.uk

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/A/anatomy/careers2.html

http://www.rcpath.org/