The path to becoming a pathologist may follow a similar trajectory as follows: The final step to becoming a pathologist is passing a board certification exam. The field of pathology encompasses both anatomic and clinical aspects, with anatomic focusing on the effect of disease on the human body and clinical involving laboratory work and supervising testing procedures.Ī person may choose to specialize in one of these disciplines or take a longer residency and practice both. A person will then complete a residency, where they study and practice pathology under the training of experts in the field. The route to pathology will usually commence after the successful completion of a related degree and training. While most pathologists receive training in both the clinical and anatomical realm of pathology, some receive additional training, giving them expertise in a certain subspecialty of their choosing. They are responsible for performing laboratory tests to show the presence, cause, and severity of diseases and to monitor the progress of the condition and effects of treatment. They work closely with other healthcare professionals and contribute toward the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of diseases. Pathologists are typically either doctors with specialist laboratory training or scientists with specialist clinical training. This enables them to better understand the cause of the issue, how it is progressing, and how the condition is affecting the body’s typical functions and processes.
By obtaining samples of bodily cells, fluids, and tissues and then analyzing them, an expert can identify any abnormalities or distinct changes. Pathology is a general term to describe the study of diseases and injuries that may occur in the human body.