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Make Pathology Your Career Choice-Student Info Final
Make Pathology Your Career Choice-Student Info Final
The Basics
Career opportunities
o Extremely broad: Many pathologists practice both AP and CP.
o Wide spectrum of practice settings
o Multiple subspecialties exist
o Ability to tailor your career to your own interests (e.g.: Enjoy blood banking and surgical
pathology? You can do both!)
Residency Basics
o No transitional or preliminary year is required; you can match directly into Pathology
o Majority of programs (85%) are AP/CP combined (4 years)-sit for dual board examinations
o Some AP-only or CP-only programs exist (3 years)-sit for one board exam
o Vast majority of trainees complete at least one fellowship (most are 1 year), some
fellowships have their own boards, others are not boarded. Fellowships are available in
each AP and CP area, as well as in organ-specific areas in AP (like Dermatopathology).
students terrify you? Do you want to have plenty of preview time with cases before the
attending sees them? These are questions you should ask!
But I hated histology! Can I still do Pathology? The UT histology lectures and the Pathology
course are not like practicing pathology. Come rotate in the department and see if you enjoy the
diagnostic aspect of the field.
Im not sure how you can look at a scope all day. Dont you get headaches? You quickly
learn how to focus both eyepieces to avoid this annoying problem. Most pathologists had these
same issues until they learned how to properly use a microscope, too.
How do autopsies work? Can I be a pathologist without doing them? You can be a
practicing pathologist and do no autopsies, however an AP resident must perform 50 in order to sit
for the board examination.
Are there any opportunities for patient interaction? Admittedly, there are fewer opportunities
in our field. However, interacting with patients is required in blood banking, and many
hematopathologists and cytopathologists obtain their own specimens (bone marrow biopsy, fine
needle aspiration). More and more pathologists are also speaking to patients directly about their
results in counseling sessions.
So you sit in a room by yourself all day? Contrary to popular belief, pathologists interact with
people all day long. From speaking with individual physicians about results, to leading tumor
board conferences, even directing hundreds of employees in labs, pathologists are interacting all
day long! Hermits and recluses will not do well in our field.
How are the hours? Do you spend the night in the hospital? Most pathologists work
traditional clinic/office hours. Frozen section/blood banking/clinical pathology call is usually from
home, although in most groups you may be called in rather frequently when it is your turn. Rarely
would a pathologist spend the night in the hospital. On average, a pathology resident works 50
hours/week, but spends much more time on outside studying.
Do I need to do away rotations? Many people do an away rotation just to see pathology at
more than one institution. If you rotate at UT (And you should!), you can see about 2 or 3 different
hospitals. Since pathology is such an all-encompassing field, adding an away rotation will allow
you to see even more. That being said, most programs will not hold it against you if you did not
rotate there. Unlike some specialties, an Audition rotation is not necessary. Remember, an
away rotation is only valuable if you leave a GOOD impression! Dont blow it!
Who should my Letters of Recommendation be from? UT Chairman (Dr. Handorf), at least
one pathologist, at least one clinician who you worked with closely.
What about research? Is it expected? While not expected, programs like it. And it doesnt
have to be pathology connected-just show that you are a curious person who is pursuing scholarly
activity.
Resources:
CAP: www.pathologistsaregroovy.com
UT website: www.uthsc.edu/pathology
Pathology Student Interest GroupContact Lauren King for more information at
Utpathgroup@gmail.com or check out our blog at utpsig.blogspot.com (more links there!)