Pathology Careers

[Brian1982]

anyone got anymore Qs about pathology? am a 2nd year registrar in histopath, so would be well able to answer any questions!

I'm an Irish medical graduate, working my way through my pre-registration intern year in Dublin at the moment and chewing over the options for my future. I'm considering pathology for several reasons (maybe you can tell me if they're the right ones!):

1. I always loved the science in the pre-clinical years. I love knowing obscure facts about disease processes and how one thing leads to another.
2. I like the idea of working in a discipline which provides definite answers...more of a science than the sometimes less than evidence-based world of clinical medicine.
3. I do not like being on-call (sure, no one does, right?), especially as I don't like the pressure of having to make decisions in the middle of the night! The idea of regular hours appeals to me, no matter how long the days are.
4. Patient contact is nice but it's not the be-all and end-all for me and I would be perfectly happy working in a lab- or desk-based job.

Could you give me some idea of what the day-to-day work of a histopathology trainee is like? How long is the training scheme? I have never worked in a lab in my life and, although I knew my pathology inside out in college, I fear I have forgotten most of what I once knew. I know some UK graduates do some pathology in the second year of their foundation programme. I haven't done any in two years! I'm just wondering what on earth I could usefully contribute on the first day on the job! Is everyone else in the same boat?

I know I could go into pathology immediately after finishing my internship without any SHO experience in clinical posts. But if pathology turns out to be less than I expected, is it very difficult to go back to clinical work after a year or two?

On a more general point, I would like to work in the UK, ideally in or around London. Is access to the pathology scheme very competitive? I have a decent CV, firsts in finals and a few scholarships and medals, but would coming from overseas count against me?

Answers to any or all of these questions would be greatly appreciated.

[Huw]

and there is little competition.

hmmm, I wonder why?

[kem]

Is it possible to do histopathology with another pathology speciality such as microbiology or haematology? Also, i read somewhere that now a haem/path/onco speciality is being offered, anyone heard anything about this?

[eeba]

anyone got anymore Qs about pathology? am a 2nd year registrar in histopath, so would be well able to answer any questions!

hi there
i have got a question here..hope u wud reply soon.i wnt to do mrcpath..do i need to have mrcp or experience in pathology for it?
thanks

[hazza304]

anyone got anymore Qs about pathology? am a 2nd year registrar in histopath, so would be well able to answer any questions!

i am in a similar situation i wish to go into forensic pathology
i am in my 2nd and final year at gcse going in to a level and im wondering what are the best choices for a level and also where are the best places to study this either med school or uni so can someone enlighten me on what is required and any advice is welcomed also how much money does a pathologist earn and how long does it take to get to the different stages from grass roots to top of profession thanks
harry

[yazoo]

Look at the uni threads in the main forum section to find links to med schools. At these sites you will find the start of the information you need.

[ewllim]

Harry I've posted a reply on the forensic pathology thread that may help.

Brian. Histopathology basically involves spending alot of time looking down a microscope. Itsumo is a friend of mine who I worked with a few years back and I'm sure she has either replied to you individually or would have got round to posting up here. In any event, your basic work involves looking at what surgeons have cut out from someone, taking bits of it, staining it and looking at it and telling them what they sent you in the first place as they didn't know! eg. cancer diagnosis (big part of your work) or telling them the mole they cut out wasn't melanoma but just a mole! Autopsy work forms a very small part of your training and eventual work because hospital autopsies are small in number and declining as we speak. The majority of autopsies are medico-legal (i.e. forensic) and conducted by forensic pathologists. Hours as a pathologist are alot better than clinical medicine, it's generally 9-5 with no on calls and free weekends, but this can vary from centre to centre.

[imtiaz ahmed]

Hey guys whats Anatomical Pathology Technologist???

[imtiaz ahmed]

Is anyone a qualified Anatomical Pathology Technologist?

[khn17]

Is anyone a qualified Anatomical Pathology Technologist?

Yes, I am