Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Pathologist?What They DoSubspecialtiesEducation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a Pathologist?
What They Do
Subspecialties
Education
Pathologists, also known as medical pathologists, are physicians who are trained to investigate the cause and effect of diseases or injuries. They do this through the analysis of organ, tissue, blood, or body fluid samples.
Pathologists are broadly classified as either anatomical or clinical pathologists. Anatomical pathologists perform visual, microscopic, and molecular analyses of tissues, organs, and whole bodies (such as during anautopsy). Clinical pathologists diagnose disease based mainly on lab analyses of blood, urine, and other body fluids.
This article discusses pathologists, what they do, and what type of training they receive.
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Medical pathology is a field of medicine where practitioners identify the cause and effect of illness.Pathology is not limited to a single disease, population, or organ system.
Pathologists are often considered “doctor’s doctors” because they assist doctors in making diagnoses and treatment decisions.
There are two categories of pathologists: Anatomical and clinical. Although both types work in similar environments and have similar diagnostic goals, there are key differences between them.
Pathologists who practice both anatomical and clinical pathology are known as general pathologists.
What Do Pathologists Do?
Because their roles and functions are so distinctive, anatomical and clinical pathologists rely on different tools and techniques. Although there will be some overlap in procedures (particularly molecular and genetic testing), many of the tools used are specific to the specimens being analyzed.
Anatomical Pathology
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Clinical Pathology
Unlike anatomical pathologists, clinical pathologists will run tests based on a physician’s suspicion and return results that either support or exclude that suspicion. The procedures can be broadly described as:
Because the clinical applications of pathology are so vast, it is not uncommon for pathologists to specialize in a specific field of practice.
Among the subspecialties anatomical pathologists commonly pursue:
Among the subspecialties clinical pathologists commonly pursue:
Many of these specialists will go on to become medical examiners and coroners or to work in genetics labs and medical research facilities.
Cytotechnologist Career Profile
How to Become a Pathologist
Becoming a pathologist can require 11 to 14 years of education, including four years of college, four years of medical school, and three to four years in a pathology residency program.The majority of pathologists will also pursue training with a one- to two-year fellowship in a pathology subspecialty.
Pathologists must first get a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. They do not need to pursue any specific major but must complete the required pre-medical courses, including biology, physics, English, and social sciences. They also need to take the Medical Competency Aptitude Test (MCAT) a year before graduating, which mostmedical schoolsuse to select students.
The first two years of medical school are devoted primarily to classroom studies. The second two years include clinical rotations in hospitals and medical facilities to gain broad exposure to the different fields of medicine. Upon graduating, students are awarded a degree as either adoctor of medicine(MD) or adoctor of osteopathic medicine(DO), depending on the medical school.
To begin practicing, prospective pathologists need to obtain a medical license in their state. Licensing requirements vary, but most states require them to pass a national exam and, in some states, an additional state exam.
Applicants with an MD degree must pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), while those with a DO degree must complete the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX).
After attaining a license, prospective pathologists begin a three-year residency program in either anatomical or clinical pathology.There are around 145 accredited programs nationwide. They can also opt to train in a combined four-year program in anatomical and clinical pathology (AP/CP).
What Is a Medical Technologist?
In 2019, the average annual salary of pathologists in the U.S. was $308,000. Pathologists working in an independent laboratory setting have a higher annual earnings potential of around $350,000.
Summary
A pathologist is a medical doctor who specializes in analyzing blood, tissue, organs, and bodily fluids to help identify diseases. An anatomical pathologist primarily studies tissues and organs, while a clinical pathologist studies body fluids or cells obtained from tissue. A general pathologist is a pathologist skilled in both areas.
Pathologists use a range of medical equipment and test procedures to look for evidence of specific diseases. A pathology report can help diagnose a specific disease and provide treatment guidance.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.The pathologist.Kaul KL.The molecular genetic pathology fellowship curriculum: time for evolution?J Mol Diagn. 2022;24(8):823-824. doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.04.012Intersociety Council for Pathology Information.American Board of Pathology.Association of American Medical Colleges.Training the physician scientist in pathology.College of American Pathologists.The state of pathologists job market and compensation.Additional ReadingDuraiyan J, Govindarajan R, Kaliyappan K, Palanisamy M.Applications of immunohistochemistry.J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2012 Aug;4(Suppl 2):S307-9. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.100281Guarner J, Hill CE, Caliendo AM.Career panel for pathology residents: going beyond the core curriculum.Am J Clin Pathol. 2014 Apr;141(4):478-81. doi:10.1309/AJCPEANOYD9Y7GECJohnson RL.The American Board of Pathology’s Maintenance of Certification program update.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014 Apr;138(4):512-7. doi:10.5858/arpa.2013-0362-RALorenz RG, Karcher DS, Gautreaux MD, Limson M, Zander DS.The pathology workforce and clinical licensure: the role of the PhD clinical laboratorian in the United States.Acad Pathol. 2018 Jun 4;5:2374289518775948. doi:10.1177/2374289518775948
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.The pathologist.Kaul KL.The molecular genetic pathology fellowship curriculum: time for evolution?J Mol Diagn. 2022;24(8):823-824. doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.04.012Intersociety Council for Pathology Information.American Board of Pathology.Association of American Medical Colleges.Training the physician scientist in pathology.College of American Pathologists.The state of pathologists job market and compensation.Additional ReadingDuraiyan J, Govindarajan R, Kaliyappan K, Palanisamy M.Applications of immunohistochemistry.J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2012 Aug;4(Suppl 2):S307-9. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.100281Guarner J, Hill CE, Caliendo AM.Career panel for pathology residents: going beyond the core curriculum.Am J Clin Pathol. 2014 Apr;141(4):478-81. doi:10.1309/AJCPEANOYD9Y7GECJohnson RL.The American Board of Pathology’s Maintenance of Certification program update.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014 Apr;138(4):512-7. doi:10.5858/arpa.2013-0362-RALorenz RG, Karcher DS, Gautreaux MD, Limson M, Zander DS.The pathology workforce and clinical licensure: the role of the PhD clinical laboratorian in the United States.Acad Pathol. 2018 Jun 4;5:2374289518775948. doi:10.1177/2374289518775948
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.The pathologist.Kaul KL.The molecular genetic pathology fellowship curriculum: time for evolution?J Mol Diagn. 2022;24(8):823-824. doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.04.012Intersociety Council for Pathology Information.American Board of Pathology.Association of American Medical Colleges.Training the physician scientist in pathology.College of American Pathologists.The state of pathologists job market and compensation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.The pathologist.
Kaul KL.The molecular genetic pathology fellowship curriculum: time for evolution?J Mol Diagn. 2022;24(8):823-824. doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.04.012
Intersociety Council for Pathology Information.American Board of Pathology.
Association of American Medical Colleges.Training the physician scientist in pathology.
College of American Pathologists.The state of pathologists job market and compensation.
Duraiyan J, Govindarajan R, Kaliyappan K, Palanisamy M.Applications of immunohistochemistry.J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2012 Aug;4(Suppl 2):S307-9. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.100281Guarner J, Hill CE, Caliendo AM.Career panel for pathology residents: going beyond the core curriculum.Am J Clin Pathol. 2014 Apr;141(4):478-81. doi:10.1309/AJCPEANOYD9Y7GECJohnson RL.The American Board of Pathology’s Maintenance of Certification program update.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014 Apr;138(4):512-7. doi:10.5858/arpa.2013-0362-RALorenz RG, Karcher DS, Gautreaux MD, Limson M, Zander DS.The pathology workforce and clinical licensure: the role of the PhD clinical laboratorian in the United States.Acad Pathol. 2018 Jun 4;5:2374289518775948. doi:10.1177/2374289518775948
Duraiyan J, Govindarajan R, Kaliyappan K, Palanisamy M.Applications of immunohistochemistry.J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2012 Aug;4(Suppl 2):S307-9. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.100281
Guarner J, Hill CE, Caliendo AM.Career panel for pathology residents: going beyond the core curriculum.Am J Clin Pathol. 2014 Apr;141(4):478-81. doi:10.1309/AJCPEANOYD9Y7GEC
Johnson RL.The American Board of Pathology’s Maintenance of Certification program update.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014 Apr;138(4):512-7. doi:10.5858/arpa.2013-0362-RA
Lorenz RG, Karcher DS, Gautreaux MD, Limson M, Zander DS.The pathology workforce and clinical licensure: the role of the PhD clinical laboratorian in the United States.Acad Pathol. 2018 Jun 4;5:2374289518775948. doi:10.1177/2374289518775948
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