PATHOLOGIST

A pathologist is a physician (with an M.D. or D.O. medical degree) who leads the examination of the tissue and organ samples and coordinates or communicates with the primary care physician to ultimately determine a diagnosis of disease or cause of death.

IMPORTANT FACTS

• They help with diagnosing
• There are diffrent kinds of pathologists such as the forensic
• Pathologists are turned to when a cause of death is needed

NATURE OF THE WORK

• Diagnosis of disease or death
• Examine tissue and organ samples
• Some help solve crimes through forensics
• Others can diagnose skin diseases and cancers

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• may work regular business hours, or may be on call if they work in hospitals
• Work with infectious material
• work in hospital laboratories, private laboratories and medical schools

EDUCATION

• 4 years of med school
• 4-5 years residency training

CERTIFICATION

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCMENT

• There are none

EMPLOYMENT

• Hospitals
• TBI

JOB OUTLOOK

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the number of jobs for all physicians was forecast to increase 18% in the period between 2012 and 2022 (www.bls.gov). This growth was expected in part due to healthcare needs caused by an increase in the senior citizen population. Because the elderly are particularly susceptible to diseases like cancer, medical pathologists, who are instrumental in diagnosing cancer, should be increasingly in demand.

EARNINGS

RELATED OCCUPATION

• Forensic pathologist
• Speech pathologist

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS CAREER

• The salary
• Determining the cause of death
• Work environment
• Diagnosing diseases

WHAT I DONT LIKE

• The years of schooling
• Having to be on call
• Dealing with the dead

I WOULDNT CHOOSE THIS CAREER