Major Confusion

[DunnoNothin]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I apologize in advance if this is not the correct place for this question, but since it is Pathology related I thought a Pathologist would be able to give me the best advice.

I am still in hi-school and would like to get a Pathologist Assistant MS

But would a BS in Medical Technology or a BS in Microbiology be the best foundation for me? And if you have time, explain why?

Thank you.

 

[txpathman]

Actually, the best preparation if you know for sure that you will go on to be PA is probably doing a program as a histotechnologist as this will be more closely related to your job duties as a pa. other areas that are good considerations because they usually pay a little better are mt (as you already asked about) and cytotechnology programs if you think you might decide not to go onto becoming a pa. mt's perform a large part of the work done in clinical pathology(hematology, chemisty, microbiology, transfusion medicine,a nd molecular diagnostics), an area where pa's are seldom involved other then possible management on occasion and cytotech's deal only in cytology. hitstotechs prepare and stain slides of tissue dissected by pathologists and pas. occasionally histotechs are trained to gross small simple specimens so this might give you an advantage. hope this helps.

mt is a wonderful field though. as a former mt and medical student starting pathology residency this yr.

good luck