Pathology involves analyzing blood, tissue, and body fluids to diagnose disease. Pathology jobs range from laboratory technicians to licensed physicians, with specializations including cytology, hematology, and forensic studies. Pathologists may work in hospitals, research labs, or private universities.
Pathology is a clinical specialty in which scientists collect and analyze samples of blood, tissue, and body fluids to diagnose disease. There are several pathology jobs available for individuals with different levels of education and experience, such as laboratory technicians, technologists, and licensed physicians. Additionally, there are many different areas of specialization within the field, such as cytology, hematology, dermatopathology, and forensic studies. Most pathology jobs are found in hospitals and other clinical settings, although some pathologists work in research laboratories and private universities.
Licensed pathologists are physicians who use their specialized knowledge of the nature of disease to make diagnoses and suggest treatment options. Some pathologists work in medical laboratories, overseeing experiments on tissue and blood samples and interpreting the results. They may perform autopsies or biopsies to find out the causes of certain diseases. Other pathologists specialize in providing direct care, using the results of physical exams and laboratory tests to confirm disease and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Technologists and certified clinical laboratory technicians perform many pathology jobs. A technologist is usually responsible for operating the laboratory equipment and performing the actual tests on samples. He or she may use chemical agents to check the contents of a blood sample or employ a microscope to examine suspicious cells. Laboratory technicians typically act as assistants to technologists and may be responsible for collecting samples for study, setting up laboratory equipment and experiments, translating results into reports, and cleaning the laboratory.
Pathologists, technologists, and technicians often specialize in one or more areas of pathology. Cytopathologists, for example, study individual cells from various parts of the human body to detect irregularities such as cancer. Hematology specialists analyze blood samples and facilitate safe blood transfusions, while dermatologists specialize in diagnosing various skin disorders. Forensic pathologists and their assistants perform autopsies on deceased people to identify causes of death, hoping to use this information to help future patients.
Hospitals offer the greatest number of different pathology jobs, as many pathologists are directly involved with hospital patients. Other pathologist jobs can be found at research institutions and independent laboratories that provide services to physicians in private practice. Forensic pathologists often work in physicians’ offices, which may be located within a hospital or in a separate facility. Additionally, an experienced pathologist may choose to teach medical science courses at a college or university, preparing the next generation of medical specialists for their future pathology jobs.
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