Pathology Doctor

Nature of the work

A pathologist deals with the causes and nature of diseases and contributes to diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment through knowledge gained by the laboratory application of the biologic, chemical, and physical sciences. This specialist uses information gathered from the microscopic examination of tissue specimens, cells, and body fluids, and from clinical laboratory tests on body fluids and secretions for the diagnosis, exclusion, and monitoring of disease.¹

Pathologists can receive training in the following subspecialties:

blood banking/transfusion medicine chemical pathology cytopathology dermatopathology forensic pathology

hematology medical microbiology molecular genetic pathology neuropathology pediatric pathology

Training/residency information

Residency training for pathologists is three to four years. Residents can receive their training in either combined anatomic pathology and clinical pathology (which requires four years of training), anatomic pathology only (requiring three years of training), or clinical pathology only (three years of training). Practice in a pathology subspecialty requires one additional year of training (two additional years for neuropathology).

References
1 The American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to Physician Specialties. Evanston, IL: American Board of Medical Specialties; February 2008.
2 2010 Physician Compensation Survey [special feature]. Modern Healthcare . July 19, 2010: 20-26.