Aspects of being a pathologist that are great.

[Sir James Bond]

Perhaps the topic has surfaced already in various threads, but I couldn't quite find one focused on this simple question. What do you really enjoy about being a pathologist? and this can be anything from the nature of the work to aspects of the field to ancillary perks. As a 3rd year in med school I value insight from those with much more experience. Really for pathology residents, attendings, private practice docs, lab owners, and even entrepreneurs and beyond.

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[Arctic Char]

Perhaps the topic has surfaced already in various threads, but I couldn't quite find one focused on this simple question. What do you really enjoy about being a pathologist? and this can be anything from the nature of the work to aspects of the field to ancillary perks. As a 3rd year in med school I value insight from those with much more experience. Really for pathology residents, attendings, private practice docs, lab owners, and even entrepreneurs and beyond.

well first off, no matter what field you go into, residency sucks. just the nature of the game.

BUT, if you have even the slightest level of curiosity in medicine, about human biology and, well, pathology, then path can be an extraordinarily fun career. personally, I enjoy looking at anatomy under the microscope, and being a resource for clinicians. i like being a consultant, and knowing that I can help other physicians be better at their jobs. to some degree, every specialty has their particular input in the "assembly line" of a patient's healthcare experience. within that imagery, pathology has the coolest angle . . . we SEE the cells, we REALLY know whats going on with the disease, and our insight is invaluable.

another great thing about path is the diversity of career options. one can pursue a general practice, academics, industry, consulting, etc.

 

[2121115]

How dare you request positive comments!!!

I will never type a positive comment on SDN! Never I tell you!!!

Things are bad and will naturally only get worse! Don't you get that?!?!?!?

 

[Sir James Bond]

Yes, one must be out of his mind to request positive comments. Let me sip my martini.

But before we list all the negatives - which won't help the dropping number of US seniors matching to pathology (from 327 down to 269 this year) - why not stay on the topic for the time being. It seems many 3rd years like myself could use a little positive insight from people further along, as the numbers above suggest. The tunnel is long, and we can only see the light from where we're standing.

So to continue, what do you really enjoy about being a pathologist?

 

[pathstudent]

Perhaps the topic has surfaced already in various threads, but I couldn't quite find one focused on this simple question. What do you really enjoy about being a pathologist? .

The groupees. The VIP lounge. Getting escorted into the club. You know...

 

[Sir James Bond]

Excellent!

 

[Enkidu]

Pathology is like a 5-course meal of all meat. None of that garbage about adjusting blood pressure meds or telling patients not to smoke. Just diagnose disease and be the smartest person in the hospital.

 

[BU Pathology]

Perhaps the topic has surfaced already in various threads, but I couldn't quite find one focused on this simple question. What do you really enjoy about being a pathologist? and this can be anything from the nature of the work to aspects of the field to ancillary perks. As a 3rd year in med school I value insight from those with much more experience. Really for pathology residents, attendings, private practice docs, lab owners, and even entrepreneurs and beyond.

I distinctly remember a case when I was a first year pathology resident of a patient with a pituitary tumor that had been removed. At the conference, the Chief of Neurosurgery had an opinion, the Chief of Endocrinology had an opinion, and the Chief of Medicine had an opinion about the nature of the tumor.

But as a first year resident, I had the answer.

 

[cjw0918]

I love the visual aspect of the specialty. I dream in pink and purple.

 

[KCShaw]

I distinctly remember a case when I was a first year pathology resident of a patient with a pituitary tumor that had been removed. At the conference, the Chief of Neurosurgery had an opinion, the Chief of Endocrinology had an opinion, and the Chief of Medicine had an opinion about the nature of the tumor.

But as a first year resident, I had the answer.

This I dig. Most clinicians must play at the age old art of medical riddles, working out history, symptoms, physical exam, incorporating fancy new imaging, surgical findings, and trying to ask the right questions of the patient and themselves simply to narrow down the most likely differential diagnoses. But for the most part the definitive diagnosis lies with or depends heavily upon either the clinical laboratory or the anatomic pathologist.