Careers in Pathology Careers in Pathology

“Is it the work you see on TV programmes like Silent Witness and CSI?”

What is pathology? What is pathology?

“60% of people believe that pathologists only cut up dead people.”

“Less than 33% know that pathologists diagnose diseases of living people.”

Pathology is the study of diseasePathology is the study of disease

• Look at tissues and cells removed from patients

• Use microscopes and a trained eye to discover disease

• Tell the patient’s doctor what is wrong

HistopathologistsHistopathologists

• Diagnose cancers and other serious illnesses......but they also often have good news

• Carry out post mortem examinations to find out why someone has died

HistopathologistsHistopathologists

• Good attention to detail

• Able to work well under pressure

• Good communication skills

• Able to work as part of a team

Skills requiredSkills required

• Study and treat diseases of the blood cells and bone marrow

• Diagnose and treat blood clotting abnormalities

• Are responsible for ensuring that blood transfusions are safe

HaematologistsHaematologists

• Care for people with anaemia, leukaemias, thrombosis and bleeding problems such as haemophilia

• Work in labs diagnosing disease, as well as caring for patients

HaematologistsHaematologists

• Inter-personal skills

• Being able to empathise withpatients

• Interpretative skills

• Good communicationskills

Skills requiredSkills required

• Used to mainly work in labs but are now out on the wards seeing patients

• Give advice about many infection control issues

• Give advice on the correct treatment of infections

Medical MicrobiologistsMedical Microbiologists

• Collaborate with colleagues and deal directly with patients, as well as work in the lab

• Make new and unexpected discoveries impacting on patients’ health

Medical MicrobiologistsMedical Microbiologists

• Patience

• Curiosity

• Team player

• Persistent

• Good communicator

Skills requiredSkills required

• Diagnose diseases where the body’s chemistry goes wrong

• Test body fluids such as blood, urine, saliva and spinal fluid

• Work in the lab as well as directly with patients

Clinical BiochemistsClinical Biochemists

• Spend time looking at patients’ test results to see what is normal and what is abnormal

• Abnormal results will be discussed with patient’s doctor

Clinical BiochemistsClinical Biochemists

• Communication skills

• An eye for detail

• Leadership skills

• Organisational skills

Skills requiredSkills required

• Deal with a wide range of clinical problems, including genetic and acquired immune deficiencies

• Work in many different areas of biomedical research, as well as in healthcare

ImmunologistsImmunologists

• Investigate why the immune system can attack the body's own tissues

• Develop vaccines to combat diseases like HIV

• Study the causes of allergies

• Investigate ways to stop the body rejecting transplants

ImmunologistsImmunologists

• Communication skills

• Management skills

• Excellent ability in biology

• Problem solving

• Able to work independently

Skills requiredSkills required

UK pathologistsUK pathologists

Histopathology

Histopathology

Clinical Biochemistry

Clinical Biochemistry

Clinical Embryology

Clinical EmbryologyCytopathologyCytopathology

Dermatopathology

Dermatopathology

Forensic Pathology

Forensic Pathology

GeneticsGenetics

HaematologyHaematology

Histocompatibility &

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Immunogenetics

ImmunologyImmunologyMedical Microbiology

Medical Microbiology

NeuropathologyNeuropathology

Oral Pathology

Oral Pathology

Paediatric Pathology

Paediatric Pathology

ToxicologyToxicology

Transfusion Medicine

Transfusion Medicine

Veterinary PathologyVeterinary Pathology

VirologyVirology

19 different specialties19 different specialties

Metabolic medicineMetabolic medicine

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Pathology is involved in over

70% of diagnoses...

...that’s 14 tests for every person in the country each year

Pathology Services in England & Wales (2002/03)Source: Audit Commission

400 million biochemistry tests

120 million haematology tests

30 million microbiology requests

13 million histopathology slides

Pathology – the essential service Pathology – the essential service