Pathologists
Health Science > Therapeutic ServicesProjected Growth: Faster than average
Projected Job Openings
Extensive Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Diagnose presence and stage of diseases using laboratory techniques and patient specimens. Study the nature, cause, and development of diseases. May perform autopsies.
Common job titles of Pathologists include:
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Experience and Education
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
56.4% said they needed a Post-Doctoral Training.
42.3% said they needed a Doctoral Degree.
Tasks
Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
Analyze and interpret results from tests such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
Manage medical laboratories.
Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.
Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents or visiting pathologists.
Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.
Conduct research and present scientific findings.
Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.
Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
Obtain specimens by performing procedures such as biopsies or fine need aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.
Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.
Tools
Weighing vials
Volumetric pipettes
Volumetric flasks
Urinometers
Ultra microtomes
Trephine biopsy needles
Tissue baths
All ToolsThermal cyclers
Swab transports
Sterile screw-cap plastic tubes
Sterile screw-cap glass tubes
Sterile screw-cap cups
Sputum traps
Spirometers
Sliding microtomes
Slide drying ovens
Rotary microtomes
Rocking microtomes
Powder-free gloves
Positive patient identification PPID systems
Polymerase chain reaction PCR equipment
Plastic petri dishes
Personal protective equipment
Paraffin molds
Microtome blocks
Mass spectroscopes
Lumbar puncture needles
Laboratory water baths
Laboratory refrigerators
Laboratory freezer or refrigerator thermometers
Label printers
In vitro blood gas analyzers
Histopathology block holders
Hematology analyzers
Hemacytometers
Gravimetric pipettes
Gas chromatographs GC
Freezing microtomes
Freezers
FNAC needles
Fluorescence polarization immunoassay analyzers
Flow cytometers
Flame photometers
Eyewash fountains
Electrophoresis instruments
Electron microscopes
Disposable plastic pipettes
Digital photomicroscopes
Digital cameras
Desktop computers
Coagulation analyzers
Clot tubes
Clinical chemical systems
Chemistry analyzers
Chemiluminescent immunoassay analyzers
Chemical protective face shields
Centrifuges
Capillary tubes
Calorimeters
Bone marrow puncture needles
Blood irradiators
Blood gas analyzers
Blood culture incubators
Blood agar plates
Biopsy needles
Automated slide stainers
Automated pipettes
Automated immunoassay analyzers
Analytical balances
Anaerobic specimen transport systems
Albuminometers
Technologies
Accounts receivables system software
Anatomic pathology software
Antek HealthWare LabDAQ
Aspyra CyberLAB
Aspyra CyberPATH
Blood Bank Computer Systems Blood Bank Control System
Blood bank information systems
All TechnologiesCerner CoPathPlus
Cerner Millennium PathNet
Cerner Millennium PathNet Blood Bank Transfusion
Cerner Millennium ProFit
Clinical Information Systems CISLab CPS
Clinical Software Solutions CLIN1 Suite
ClinLab LIS
Comp Pro Med Polytech
Computer Service and Support AR 2000 Laboratory Billing System
Computer Trust WinSurge
Cortex Medical Management Systems Cortex Medical Billing
Cortex Medical Management Systems The Gold Standard
CPSI CPSI System
CSS CLS-2000
Custom Software Systems StarLab
Digital image databases
EasyPath Software Pathology Assistant
Elekta Impac Software IntelliLab
Elekta Impac Software PowerPath
EpicLab Laboratory Information System
eTeleNext AP Anywhere
eTeleNext LIS
Fletcher-Flora Health Care Systems FFlex eSuite LIS
Fletcher-Flora Health Care Systems LabPak LIS
GE Healthcare Centricity Laboratory
GE Healthcare Centricity Laboratory Anatomic Pathology/Cytology
GE Healthcare Centricity Laboratory Transfusion Medicine
Haemonetics Symphony Suite
Healthvision MediAR
Healthvision TDSynergy Anatomic Pathology
Healthvision TDSynergy LIS
HEX Laboratory Systems Billing and Cash Management
HEX Laboratory Systems LAB/HEX
HT Systems PatientSecure
Iatric Systems MobiLab
Korchek Technologies CareChek
Laboratory information system LIS
LabSoft LabNet
Lattice MediCopia
McKesson Horizon Anatomic Pathology
McKesson Horizon Blood Bank
McKesson Horizon Lab
McKesson Horizon Lab Financials
McKesson Horizon MobileCare Phlebotomy
MEDITECH Anatomical Pathology
MEDITECH HCIS
Mediware Information Systems HCLL Donor
Mediware Information Systems HCLL Transfusion
Mediware Information Systems LifeTrak
Multidata Computer Systems MultiTech
NeTLIMS AutoAP
NeTLIMS AutoFusion
NeTLIMS AutoLIMS Core Lab
NetSoft IntelliPath
Niceware International LabelClinic CT
Novovision NovoPath
Omnitech OMNILAB
Orchard Software Orchard Harvest LIS
Orchard Software Orchard Pathology
PathLogix
PathView Systems Progeny
Psyche Systems LabWeb
Psyche Systems Systematic Blood Bank
Psyche Systems WindoPath
Quality Software Systems LabHealth
SCC Soft Computer SoftA/R
SCC Soft Computer SoftBank
SCC Soft Computer SoftDonor
SCC Soft Computer SoftLab
SCC Soft Computer SoftPath
Schuyler House SchuyLab
Seacoast Laboratory Data Systems SurroundLab AR
Seacoast Laboratory Data Systems SurroundLab Plus
Siemens NOVIUS Lab
Siemens Patient Identification Check
Small Business Computers of New England AP Easy
STARLIMS
Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Clinical Financials
Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Collection Manager
Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest CoPathPlus
Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Laboratory
Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Transfusion Manager
TELCOR Billing Information System
WebPathLab
Wyndgate Technologies ElDorado Donor
Wyndgate Technologies SafeTrace
XIFIN
Skills
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Abilities
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Inductive Reasoning
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Problem Sensitivity
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Expression
Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Information Ordering
Identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Cognitive Abilities › Perceptual Abilities › Flexibility of Closure
See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Sensory Abilities › Visual Abilities › Near Vision
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
Auditory and Speech Abilities › Sensory Abilities › Speech Clarity
Generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Category Flexibility
Quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Cognitive Abilities › Perceptual Abilities › Speed of Closure