Path PhD & Dx????

[MSc44]

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If one has a Phd In Pathology And has done a few Post - Docs, can they then make a Dx if they work in a hospital setting or do you need an MD , if u do need an MD why are there PhD's in pathology??????

 

[quant]

if u do need an MD why are there PhD's in pathology??????

to do the grunt work and to NOT make money?.... 😀

 

[Brian Pavlovitz]

I believe PhD patholgists are involved in research and teaching, and not necessarily diagnosticians (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I'm pretty sure an MD is necessary to sign out cases.

 

[MSc44]

I believe PhD patholgists are involved in research and teaching, and not necessarily diagnosticians (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I'm pretty sure an MD is necessary to sign out cases.

thats interesting, because i would think a PhD (in path)is more focused is way more focused and studies more in depth into the subject then am MD/DO

 

[quant]

thats interesting, because i would think a PhD (in path)is more focused is way more focused and studies more in depth into the subject then am MD/DO

Probably true in a way. But the fact of the matter is, you do not need a PhD level expertise to diagnose every case. But in some special cases i believe even a specialist PhD s opinion is asked for.(Please feel absolutely free to correct me if im wrong)

 

[Gut Shot]

thats interesting, because i would think a PhD (in path)is more focused is way more focused and studies more in depth into the subject then am MD/DO

I have a PhD in pathology (technically "experimental pathology"), so allow me to interject.

Pathology PhD's are researchers, pure and simple. I spent 5+ years studying host-parasite interactions of the Sri Lankan Staring Fungus, do you think I learned anything about clinical pathology? Nope. I wouldn't have known a Reed Sternberg cell or basal cell carcinoma if it hit me in the face. Even the most rudimentary of pathologic diagnoses would have left me furrowing my brow in a vain attempt to assimilate. As such, if you want to do basic research, the PhD might be for you. If you want to do anything relating to day-to-day clinical work, there's no choice but to do pathology residency with an MD or DO.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Yeah, I agree. Granted that there may be exceptions, perhaps on the CP side of things...I haven't witnessed any non-MD's signing out any surg path or autopsy cases.

 

[CameronFrye]

Yeah, someone with a PhD in pathology may be able to go on and do a fellowship in clinical chemistry or micro, but I don't think there's anyway they're getting anywhere near something in surg path.

 

[yaah]

PhDs run chemistry and micro labs, and others like cytogenetics, and thus have responsibility to verify certain results and interpret them. Surg path I have never heard of.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Ph.D.'s can be board certified in certain areas of clinical pathology (clinical chemistry, diagnostic immunology, medical microbiology, cytogenetics, molecular diagnostics). I did a fellowship in clinical chemistry. Ph.D.'s will not be found on the clinical service of anatomic pathology disciplines (autopsy, surg path, cyto etc).