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Selective Pathologist |
Career OverviewA pathologist is a physician whose main expertise is examining and making microscopic diagnosis on biopsies, cytological smears and surgical specimens. They are responsible for the accuracy and interpretation of the lab tests that help in the patient’s diagnosis and their treatment. A selective pathologist specializes in a specific area in pathology such as a surgical pathology.
A selective/surgical pathologist examines the tissue removed from a patient’s body. They examine this tissue to determine the exact cause of the illness that caused the disease or condition. Working with the surgeon and the patient, a selective pathologist plays an extremely important role in diagnosing the surgically removed tissues.
An extremely critical analysis for a selective/surgical pathologist is to be able to process tissues immediately. Of the surgeon will give a frozen section of tissue to the selective pathologist during surgery. Freezing allows the selective/surgical pathologist to divide the tissue thinly into sections so that within minutes he or she can perform a microscopic analysis on it.
The surgical pathologist thinly slices a piece of the frozen tissue and performs microscopic analysis to determine if the tissue is cancer or cancer free. This is the most common method used when a surgeon needs immediate results on whether the tissue is cancerous.
A very large number of selective pathologists work in community hospitals playing an important role in the surgical decision-making along with medical education of the physicians. They also work in group practices or private practices and other health care facilities. A selective pathologist may choose to work in the laboratory of a major national medical network or an independent laboratory. Many selective pathologists practice in community hospitals or in one of several other settings available to them.
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Career RequirementsTo prepare for a career as a selective pathologist he or she is required to first graduate from medical school. After completing the required four or more years of medical school he or she must take another four to five years of credited residency training, which will prepare them for a vocation in pathology.
This training familiarizes the resident with all functions of a pathology department. After this training they are eligible to take the board certification exams. A pathologist can choose to undertake another one or two years training in sub-specialty areas. Under anatomic pathology are subdivisions such as surgical pathology, cytopathology and autopsy pathology. Each sub-specialty or subdivision requires additional schooling.
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Job OutlookThe selective pathologists job growth is exceeding at a very fast pace that is expected to continue through 2014, as the need in this specialized field continues to increase. Job opportunities for selective pathologists are extremely good.
The age expectancy for the older generation is increasing and the shortage of selective pathologists in hospitals and laboratories is more evident, which provides this field with a very good job outlook.
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Career TrackFor a selective pathologist, there are several career options available such as:
- Laboratory head
- Teaching
- Researcher
- Consultants
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CompensationDepending on the years of experience, employer and performance, the average wages for a selective pathologist range from approximately $210,000 to over $305,000.
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