From Pharmacist to... Coroner?

[SaveThisLabRat]

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Alright, I've been lurking in this pathology subforum for a few days now, reading every detail of almost every thread. I wanted to cover all my bases before I made a post.

So, I'm currently studying pre-pharmacy, a junior majoring in physiology to be exact. But there is something I have never discussed before until now, because I didn't want people to think I was strange. I've always had a life-long curiousity for working with patients... postmortem. I know, right? I'm just so intriuged by autopsies (I especially love the surgical aspect of it), disease, medicolegal dealings, and the thought of bringing the dead back to life one last time; Knowing what their last moments of life were like. Bringing peace to the family is also important to me.

I never seriously considered a career in forensic pathology at all until I found myself last week looking up autopsy videos on Youtube. Some of my favorite television shows are Cops, Forensic files, MSNBC Lock-up: Raw, and any reality/documentary having to deal with homocide and the criminal mind. I swear I'm not a future serial killer.

But how do I know for sure that this is something I want to do? And not just something I need to seek mental help for. Besides doing research on SDN, is there anything out there in the real world I can do? Experience I can gain? I just need to satisfy this craving, but I don't think volunteering in the giftshop at my local hospital is going to do this. Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

 

[mlw03]

contact your local medical examiner/coroner. tell them about your interest in forensic pathology, and ask to do some shadowing. forensic path is quite interesting, but it's not all exciting stuff. plenty of it is rather mundane - you need to see that stuff, as well as the more interesting stuff, and decide if it's still a career you want to pursue. if so, time to take the mcat and start looking into med school applications. these should be your initial steps to explore forensic pathology further.

Alright, I've been lurking in this pathology subforum for a few days now, reading every detail of almost every thread. I wanted to cover all my bases before I made a post.

So, I'm currently studying pre-pharmacy, a junior majoring in physiology to be exact. But there is something I have never discussed before until now, because I didn't want people to think I was strange. I've always had a life-long curiousity for working with patients... postmortem. I know, right? I'm just so intriuged by autopsies (I especially love the surgical aspect of it), disease, medicolegal dealings, and the thought of bringing the dead back to life one last time; Knowing what their last moments of life were like. Bringing peace to the family is also important to me.

I never seriously considered a career in forensic pathology at all until I found myself last week looking up autopsy videos on Youtube. Some of my favorite television shows are Cops, Forensic files, MSNBC Lock-up: Raw, and any reality/documentary having to deal with homocide and the criminal mind. I swear I'm not a future serial killer.

But how do I know for sure that this is something I want to do? And not just something I need to seek mental help for. Besides doing research on SDN, is there anything out there in the real world I can do? Experience I can gain? I just need to satisfy this craving, but I don't think volunteering in the giftshop at my local hospital is going to do this. Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

 

[paleman]

too much CSI methinks

 

[paleman]

something I need to seek mental help for.

yip i agree.. good luck!

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

contact your local medical examiner/coroner. tell them about your interest in forensic pathology, and ask to do some shadowing. forensic path is quite interesting, but it's not all exciting stuff. plenty of it is rather mundane - you need to see that stuff, as well as the more interesting stuff, and decide if it's still a career you want to pursue. if so, time to take the mcat and start looking into med school applications. these should be your initial steps to explore forensic pathology further.

I think this is very important, too. Thanks for the great advice.


Also, I've never watched an episode of CSI in my life. But you know what, it could be all fantasy in my head! I need to find out.

 

[exPCM]

Alright, I've been lurking in this pathology subforum for a few days now, reading every detail of almost every thread. I wanted to cover all my bases before I made a post.

So, I'm currently studying pre-pharmacy, a junior majoring in physiology to be exact. But there is something I have never discussed before until now, because I didn't want people to think I was strange. I've always had a life-long curiousity for working with patients... postmortem. I know, right? I'm just so intriuged by autopsies (I especially love the surgical aspect of it), disease, medicolegal dealings, and the thought of bringing the dead back to life one last time; Knowing what their last moments of life were like. Bringing peace to the family is also important to me.

I never seriously considered a career in forensic pathology at all until I found myself last week looking up autopsy videos on Youtube. Some of my favorite television shows are Cops, Forensic files, MSNBC Lock-up: Raw, and any reality/documentary having to deal with homocide and the criminal mind. I swear I'm not a future serial killer.

But how do I know for sure that this is something I want to do? And not just something I need to seek mental help for. Besides doing research on SDN, is there anything out there in the real world I can do? Experience I can gain? I just need to satisfy this craving, but I don't think volunteering in the giftshop at my local hospital is going to do this. Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

http://thename.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=504&Itemid=27

Assistant Medical Examiner - Salt Lake City, UT
The salary range is $96,762 to $166,442. Starting salary is negotiable and competitive. A full and competitive benefits package will be provided. Applicants must have completed an ACGME approved residency in Anatomic and/or combined Anatomic & Clinical Pathology, an ACGME approved fellowship in Forensic Pathology and have American Board of Pathology certification in Anatomic Pathology and ABP certification (at time of hire or within two years of hiring) in Forensic Pathology.

http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=c9ec335fc5b05672

Pharmacy Director needed for an acute care hospital in eastern Arkansas. The director reports to the CFO, there are 2 full time staff pharmacists (1 vacant); three full time techs (1 vacant) and 1 part time tech (vacant). Salary range 120K-200K. (Staff pharmacist - hours 4 ten hour days and every other weekend. Salary range 110K-150K.)

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

http://thename.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=504&Itemid=27

Assistant Medical Examiner - Salt Lake City, UT
The salary range is $96,762 to $166,442. Starting salary is negotiable and competitive. A full and competitive benefits package will be provided. Applicants must have completed an ACGME approved residency in Anatomic and/or combined Anatomic & Clinical Pathology, an ACGME approved fellowship in Forensic Pathology and have American Board of Pathology certification in Anatomic Pathology and ABP certification (at time of hire or within two years of hiring) in Forensic Pathology.

http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=c9ec335fc5b05672

Pharmacy Director needed for an acute care hospital in eastern Arkansas. The director reports to the CFO, there are 2 full time staff pharmacists (1 vacant); three full time techs (1 vacant) and 1 part time tech (vacant). Salary range 120K-200K. (Staff pharmacist - hours 4 ten hour days and every other weekend. Salary range 110K-150K.)

"The successful applicant will perform medicolegal autopsies and examinations on deceased individuals whose deaths fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner and related tasks such as writing reports, coordinating ancillary testing, explaining findings to families, law enforcement personnel and attorneys, testifying in court and teaching concepts of forensic pathology to medical and non-medical personnel."

That is everything I would like to do. The responsibility is something I love. I'm definitely going to contact my local M.E.'s office. Thanks for this post.

 

[green mantis]

http://thename.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=504&Itemid=27

Assistant Medical Examiner - Salt Lake City, UT
The salary range is $96,762 to $166,442. Starting salary is negotiable and competitive. A full and competitive benefits package will be provided. Applicants must have completed an ACGME approved residency in Anatomic and/or combined Anatomic & Clinical Pathology, an ACGME approved fellowship in Forensic Pathology and have American Board of Pathology certification in Anatomic Pathology and ABP certification (at time of hire or within two years of hiring) in Forensic Pathology.

http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=c9ec335fc5b05672

Pharmacy Director needed for an acute care hospital in eastern Arkansas. The director reports to the CFO, there are 2 full time staff pharmacists (1 vacant); three full time techs (1 vacant) and 1 part time tech (vacant). Salary range 120K-200K. (Staff pharmacist - hours 4 ten hour days and every other weekend. Salary range 110K-150K.)

The salaries appear to be comparable. However, there's a lot less school involved in becoming a pharmacist (3-4 years post-college). To become a forensic pathologist, you're going to need 4 years of MD/DO school & a minimum of 4 years of residency (AP/FP).


----- Antony

 

[schrute]

I swear I'm not a future serial killer.

Famous last words...

 

[mcfaddens]

Why dont you look into becoming an autopsy tech (diener) You will get to do 90% of the cutting, good state job and most importantly you wont be $200 grand in debt (~$400 with intrest by the time you get close to paying it off especially with that kind of salary) And you can start while you still have interest in autopsy path. Most likely after 4years of med school (thousands of dollars spent on getting in and all of the exams), 4 yrs of residency and fellowship you will have changed your mind.

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

The salaries appear to be comparable. However, there's a lot less school involved in becoming a pharmacist (3-4 years post-college). To become a forensic pathologist, you're going to need 4 years of MD/DO school & a minimum of 4 years of residency (AP/FP).


----- Antony

Time used to be a factor I considered when I first started college, but I'm not obsessed with finishing quick anymore. It doesn't really bother me. Salary, truthfully I generally don't look up the salary ranges either, but it's good to know. My ultimate considerations are passion for the field, competency, and satisfaction. You know, I'm studying to take this pharmacy technician exam, and I'm just not getting that feeling.

Famous last words...

Omg lol!

Why dont you look into becoming an autopsy tech (diener) You will get to do 90% of the cutting, good state job and most importantly you wont be $200 grand in debt (~$400 with intrest by the time you get close to paying it off especially with that kind of salary) And you can start while you still have interest in autopsy path. Most likely after 4years of med school (thousands of dollars spent on getting in and all of the exams), 4 yrs of residency and fellowship you will have changed your mind.

I'll look into that, too. I didn't even know such a thing existed. That's pretty cool. Thanks for the advice.

 

[pathgrrl]

Why dont you look into becoming an autopsy tech (diener)

I think the up-to-date term is pathology assistant.
However, if you have the grades for pharmacy school, you probably have them for medical school, too....question is, do you want to be the boss? or do you want to do the hands-on stuff?
I think you'll find that any autopsy pathologist would be willing to let you shadow (if you ask nicely!)

 

[mlw03]

Why dont you look into becoming an autopsy tech (diener) You will get to do 90% of the cutting, good state job and most importantly you wont be $200 grand in debt (~$400 with intrest by the time you get close to paying it off especially with that kind of salary) And you can start while you still have interest in autopsy path. Most likely after 4years of med school (thousands of dollars spent on getting in and all of the exams), 4 yrs of residency and fellowship you will have changed your mind.

recognize that there is a huge difference between autopsy tech and forensic pathologist. autopsy technicians do tons of hands on, but they do not fill out death certificates, determine cause and manners of death, or necesarilly have the understanding of medicine that a doctor does. i agree they are a valuable part of the autopsy world - they are efficient prosectors and i've learned a lot from them thus far (and expect to in the future as i continue my pathology training), but realize the difference is huge, and consider not just whether you want to be "boss" or not, but whether you enjoy the cutting aspect, or if you want to use medicolegal information to best determine the cause and manner of a person's death.

 

[Circumflex]

Also, think about if you want to go through all the classes, exams, clinical rotations, exams, and more exams of medical school followed by 3-4 years of pathology residency, most of which has little to do with forensics, and more exams to be a forensic pathologist. It could well be worth it for you, but realize that you will have to learn a ton of other stuff before you get to learn about and do forensics. Good luck.

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

You guys have been so informative, blunt, and helpful. Thank you so much.

Pathgrrl: I really would like to shadow a forensic pathologist now. I'm going to call the Los Angeles M.E.'s office and inquire. Like a member mentioned eariler, I need to see all of the "boring" or routine things that go on. So, I hope they are nice!

mlw03: Yes, I just did research on pathology assisting, and what you said holds true. It doesn't offer me completely what I want; it's a little limiting. As you said, using medicolegal information to determine cause of death, filling out paperwork, and just having the vast array of medical knowledge (and doing the cutting!) are things an assistant does not get to do.

Circumflex: I got tired out just reading your first sentence. It's a tremendous difference from pharmacy training. I have to realize and take that into serious consideration. It's a lot to digest. I understand there is a lot of histology training and slide reading?

 

[mcfaddens]

I think the up-to-date term is pathology assistant.

No actually its not, I think that the proper term is ME tech or something like that. The real title for a PA (the ones who gross ect) is Pathologist assistant, not physician assistant in path. Check out the AAPA which is the PA's equivalent of CAP. Autopsy techs dont have to meet all of the requirements that a PA would. I think that save this lab rat is looking for a quick fix based on seeing stuff on you tube and checking out the tech gig might be a good thing for them. 8 to 10 yrs of hardcore medicine training and school to be involved in the paper work/ med legal stuff might not be worth it to them. You have to look at the whole picture, 8 years ago I wanted to go into investment, that didnt happen. (would be probably easier to get a job in that)

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

No actually its not, I think that the proper term is ME tech or something like that. The real title for a PA (the ones who gross ect) is Pathologist assistant, not physician assistant in path. Check out the AAPA which is the PA's equivalent of CAP. Autopsy techs dont have to meet all of the requirements that a PA would. I think that save this lab rat is looking for a quick fix based on seeing stuff on you tube and checking out the tech gig might be a good thing for them. 8 to 10 yrs of hardcore medicine training and school to be involved in the paper work/ med legal stuff might not be worth it to them. You have to look at the whole picture, 8 years ago I wanted to go into investment, that didnt happen. (would be probably easier to get a job in that)

Ooooh. I see. I looked up Autopsy tech and wasn't too impressed. I didn't realize pathology assistant and autopsy assistant were two different jobs. So, a PA looks like a two year post-bac program, but you get to do a lot more. I see why you mentioned the other one.

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

I have one more passing question for you guys - how do you tell people what you do without sounding kind of creepy? I haven't told anyone in my family, and I was even hesistant to open up to you all, future pathologists! I guess that gets easier over time. But what kind of comments do you get? I know if I'm proud of what I do, I shouldn't be ashamed.

But what do you tell someone when they ask, "Why pathology?" Should I really say, "Because I find the circumstances of death fascinating?"

Or because I'm a huge nerd =/

 

[Mindy]

I always get

"Uhhh, well, uhh, someone's got to do it I guess."

Mindy
MA OCME

 

[Circumflex]

I have one more passing question for you guys - how do you tell people what you do without sounding kind of creepy? I haven't told anyone in my family, and I was even hesistant to open up to you all, future pathologists! I guess that gets easier over time. But what kind of comments do you get? I know if I'm proud of what I do, I shouldn't be ashamed.

But what do you tell someone when they ask, "Why pathology?" Should I really say, "Because I find the circumstances of death fascinating?"

Or because I'm a huge nerd =/

The majority of pathologists do not like doing autopsies for various reasons. Most of pathology is diagnosis. You learn about different diseases, then learn how to diagnose them using tissue.

If you don't want to sound creepy, just tell them that you want to be a pathologist because you enjoy studying disease (I would keep the fascination with death part to yourself).

 

[yaah]

Some PAs do act as dieners. Some do not. I don't know for certain whether it is part of the training program, but I think some exposure is. But yes, not all dieners are PAs.

 

[docbiohazard]

Famous last words...

If you don't want to sound creepy, just tell them that you want to be a pathologist because you enjoy studying disease (I would keep the fascination with death part to yourself).

I was going to suggest trying to sound less, uhm, excited, and more sort of "sedately interested"....

BH

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

The majority of pathologists do not like doing autopsies for various reasons. Most of pathology is diagnosis. You learn about different diseases, then learn how to diagnose them using tissue.

If you don't want to sound creepy, just tell them that you want to be a pathologist because you enjoy studying disease (I would keep the fascination with death part to yourself).

Oh yes, I didn't even think about that. The diagnosis of disease. That's good, truthful, and normal sounding.

Some PAs do act as dieners. Some do not. I don't know for certain whether it is part of the training program, but I think some exposure is. But yes, not all dieners are PAs.

Hm, I see. Interesting.

I was going to suggest trying to sound less, uhm, excited, and more sort of "sedately interested"....

BH

"Sedately interested" Haha. Good advice. I'll use a little from jar one and jar two.

Thanks everybody 🙂