PhD working in Pathology?

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besmart

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Hi Everyone,

Sorry for intruding in this professional section of SDN. I'm interested in going to medical school (DO), but I would also consider getting a PhD and doing a fellowship to allow me to work in a pathology department. My questions are the following:

- What would a person with a PhD do in a pathology lab?
- What fellowships could a person with a PhD do to gain employment in an pathology lab?
- With a PhD, would I be able to perform and interpret molecular analysis relevant to the diagnosis and management of diseases.
- What is the relationship like between a MD/DO and a PhD in a pathology lab? (aka job responsibilities)

I know that a person can do a fellowship in clinical chemistry or clinical molecular (or biochemical) genetics. I would be particularity interested in the clinical molecular genetics fellowship.

Thank you for any advice you can provide.
 
You can do chemistry based fellowships (maybe micro too?) and run that division of the lab. You can not bill for molecular/chemistry based diagnoses and you must have an MD/DO to be a medical director, who will have to sign off on any interpretive work you do as a PhD. Not a bad job overall, but obviously you are looking at greater earning potential as a physician.
 
About the OP.
Does a master in biomedical sciences (2 years) is a plus for pathology?

Thanks.
 
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