Pathology Careers

**fatcat** · 10-08-2005, 05:34 PM

Don't you just hate the Inland Revenue? A man can't even cash in on others' demise these days without being made to pay something back.

**mike1986** · 07-09-2005, 02:15 AM

So, say a histopathologist...he wouldnt see patients?

Not very good is it?

I would have thought that patient contact was too rewarding to give it up!

**JonnyW** · 10-09-2005, 04:17 PM

So how many different branches of pathology are there. I was thinking of being one two.

**Spencer Wells** · 10-09-2005, 05:03 PM

Off the top of my head, there's:

histopathology
forensic pathology (see patients, allbeit dead ones)
chemical pathology
haematology (definately see patients)

Though I'm sure there are other subspecialties too.

**dantheripper** · 10-09-2005, 07:19 PM

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/nhs-kno...data/5346.html

This is the NHS website that tries to explain what each type of doctor does once s/he has specialised. It's not massively in detail but it is useful to get a general overview and also because it lists the characteristics that the NHS likes to see in staff members of each specialty. The 'requirements' vary quite a lot between the different careers it seems!

Have fun and if you do become a pathologist, i hope you like the pink slides!

**Mmmm...** · 12-09-2005, 11:35 PM

Does a forensic pathologist have to look at... say... slides of microanatomy?

I'm thinking of self-organising a SSM for my second year (is this mad?!), and I'm quite curious about forensic pathology. However, there are few contacts around, and also, I do not want an assessment which focuses on microanatomy slides because a) it's so near exam time and bleurgh, noooooooooo b) there are more than enough microanatomy slides in the OSCE exams.

thank yoouuuuu

**omlette** · 25-11-2005, 11:40 PM

try this web site: www.rcpath.org

i wanna be a forensic pathologist, sounds like fun. U don't just cut up dead ppl, u have to deal with police, lawyers, juries, etc. basically the entire judicial system so u must be clued up about law and gd with communication as u may have to act as an expert witness.

**dsn** · 24-12-2005, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Spencer Wells

Off the top of my head, there's:

histopathology
forensic pathology (see patients, allbeit dead ones)
chemical pathology
haematology (definately see patients)

Though I'm sure there are other subspecialties too.

cytopathology.

What attracts me to pathology (especially haematology) is the opportunity to "do" science and help people directly at the same time, all while earning a decent salary. If you want big bucks, go into cardio-thoraic surgery or even better go to the City, because lets face it most pathologists will get paid £60-80 k*, a very comfortable wage compared to a humble university scientist (without a chair), but nothing compared to a partner of Deloitte or Goldman Sachs. I really don't want to know why people want to do medicine just to have a big salary; you won't have that much time to spend it, at least at first and you'll probably find it difficult to do a fairly demanding job, if you don't enjoy it.

*P.S. this is as a consultant after 15 years or so of training, in which you'll probably need to get a PhD/MD, MRCP, MRCPath -- more exams and study than a lot of other specialities. Not sure money alone will motivate you to get thr

**DoctorBloo** · 27-12-2005, 10:12 PM

Ugh. Cytopathology. How dull.

The pathology specialties are as follows:

Histopathology (with sub-specialties of Cytopath, Forensic Path, Paediatric Path and Neuropath - Oral Pathology is available for dental graduates too!)
Haematology*
Chemical Pathology** (= Clinical Biochemistry)
Clinical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics
Immunology (+Allergy)*
Medical Microbiology and Virology***

Specialties which involve DIRECT patient care (*) require MRCP and 2 years GPT (or equivalent) for admission to the SpR grade. (www.jchmt.ac.uk for details)
**Medical graduates wishing to enter SpR training in Chemical Pathology do not explicitly require MRCP, although they are likely to be particularly disadvantaged without it. Dual training in Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine requires MRCP.
***Medical Microbiology and Virology does not require MRCP, unless SpR training is combined with Infectious Diseases.

The MRCPath is an integral part of SpR training. Both parts (I and II) must be passed before a CCST is issued.

Research: Up to one year of a CLINICAL research degree (i.e. 2-year MD) may count towards SpR training. It's probably not necessary for Histopathologists or Microbiologists, but the others will probably need some research, er somewhere.

Histopath all the way...

PS: You are talking out of your arse with the cardio-thoracic big bucks thing... desperately long and unsociable hours and not that much by the way of private work. In truth, if you want big bucks either:

a) Marry someone rich
b) Sleep with someone famous and sell the story

If, however, you must remain in medicine - dermatology and orthopaedic surgery are quite lucrative.

Much love,

C x

Originally Posted by dsn

cytopathology.

What attracts me to pathology (especially haematology) is the opportunity to "do" science and help people directly at the same time, all while earning a decent salary. If you want big bucks, go into cardio-thoraic surgery or even better go to the City, because lets face it most pathologists will get paid £60-80 k*, a very comfortable wage compared to a humble university scientist (without a chair), but nothing compared to a partner of Deloitte or Goldman Sachs. I really don't want to know why people want to do medicine just to have a big salary; you won't have that much time to spend it, at least at first and you'll probably find it difficult to do a fairly demanding job, if you don't enjoy it.

*P.S. this is as a consultant after 15 years or so of training, in which you'll probably need to get a PhD/MD, MRCP, MRCPath -- more exams and study than a lot of other specialities. Not sure money alone will motivate you to get thr