Pathologist Career

Pathologist Job Description

The pathologist’s job description involves studying the subsistence of a disease condition in the human body; including the cause, the symptoms and manifestations and the course it may take. He examines and evaluates blood and fluid samples to construct the disease diagnosis. Pathology is a very large field that concentrates on various alterations and modifications occurring within cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems because of an illness.

He conducts laboratory tests to ascertain and understand the disease condition. He diagnoses the illness and determines the phase of the disease. He also works out the progress and the prognosis of the condition and helps determine the best way to manage it.

Surgeons also confer and discuss with pathologists, if they encounter unforeseen problems during a procedure. A pathologist often stands by during a surgery, to scrutinize samples and specimens taken from the patient's body.

The job description also entails organization, direction and supervision of the laboratory work, managing technicians who get the specimens ready; and conducting laboratory tests and investigations themselves.

Pathologist Education, Certification and Training

• In order to become a pathologist, you must acquire a Medical Degree from an accredited Medical School. Next, you need to pursue specific educational pre-requisites of Pathology.

• Virtually all training coursework in Pathology demand medical and research laboratory work; these being necessary in later practice.

• Schooling in pathology allows the candidate to become an expert in diagnosing diseases via investigations and tests.

• A pathologist often specializes in one domain, like, neuro-pathology, hematology, blood banking, gynecologic pathology, medical chemistry, forensic pathology, medical microbiology, surgical pathology crypto-pathology, radioisotopic pathology, or soft tissue pathology.

Pathologist Jobs

As is with most healthcare jobs, the outlook for pathologists appears very good. The BLS says that pathologists’ jobs and employment opportunities are on the rise.

Pathologists are engaged in laboratories. They are employed in hospitals, health care centers, medical centers, schools, colleges, and universities. They may carry out laboratory work or teach or conduct research studies. Some are employed at government establishments related to public health, agriculture, law enforcement, etc. They may also work in the education or forensics department.

Companies that produce products such as cosmetics, pesticides, insecticides and medicine and drugs also generate work for pathologists.

Pathologist Salary

The pathologist’s salary depends on his experience, qualification, location and employer. The mean salary of a pathologist is approximately $210,984 per year.