They, the pathologists, are usually main or supporting characters on
television crime shows. Week in and week out, we watch them perform
autopsies to find out causes of death. And, of course, their findings
help the police capture cold-blooded killers. While pathologists do
perform autopsies, it is not their only medical specialty. Typically,
they are busy in hospital clinics or laboratories helping living people.
Pathology is the medical science that studies changes in organs and
tissues caused by diseases. This is achieved through laboratory
examination and testing of tissues, cells, and fluids of the human
body. This branch of medical science helps doctors make informed
decisions about patient diagnosis and ultimate treatment.
A pathologist holds the medical credentials of either an MD (Doctor of
Medicine) or a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). The primary
objective is to study and examine disease-infected tissues and interpret
findings for the purpose of making a diagnosis and suggesting treatment
options.
These doctors are responsible for the accuracy of laboratory
tests, so precision in testing and judgment is imperative. The
pathologist is a part of the patient’s primary health care team. He/she
works in unison with other physicians to determine which test to order,
reading test results, and following up treatments.
Pathologists are not exclusive to working on dead bodies, helping to
solve crimes; they work in many areas of the medical laboratory. There
nine pathology disciplines. One discipline is that of the clinical
pathologists. These medical experts are trained in microbiology,
chemical pathology, blood banking, and hematology. A clinical
pathologist supervises tests conducted on body fluids, and in working
with blood, ensures that blood and blood products are safe.
Another branch of the field is anatomical pathology, which deals with
disease and tissues. These pathologists assist surgeons during
operations, providing immediate diagnosis on biopsies. They also
provide the same service at the post-mortem (autopsy) as well. Most of
their work deals with studying tissue from living patients. Their main
focus centers on the detection and diagnosis of cancer.
The forensic pathologist is the most familiar, at least to laymen, of
all nine disciplines. This fascinating branch focuses on investigating
sudden or unexpected death. This expert is tasked with identifying the
cause of death and reconstructing the events that lead to the patient’s
demise. It requires the examination of both external and internal body
organs; the work of this is a scrupulous and painstaking procedure.
Becoming a pathologist entails one of the lengthiest education and
training tracks of all physicians. Students should start preparation at
the high school level, making sure to take courses in calculus,
biology, physics, algebra, and chemistry. A post-secondary
undergraduate degree in pre-medicine is recommended, plus a required
four years of medical school, and an additional four-to-five years of
post graduate training in residency.
Pathologists, as seen on television, show scientists in laboratories and
lab coats surrounded by dead bodies; this is not the full profile of
the pathologist. These experts are medical doctors that problem-solve
to find cures and treatments for diseases that typically affect living
patients. Consequently, this medical science offers different areas to
explore. To learn about all of the fascinating branches, talk to a
science teacher or research information on the web. Then you you can turn to online schools for your online education and medical assistant degrees.
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