Sick of being a Pathologist. Career change.

[time to move on]

Hello all.

Pathologist with about 6 years of experience.

Tired of being controlled by glorified managers who work their 9-5 from the comfort of their home.

Tired of spending my days stuck in a closet (windowless office) as a salve to other physicians who have zero respect for our specialty.

Tired of being overworked and having glorified managers say the numbers don't support that.

Tired of having to pick up extra work from PA's, cytotechs and pathologist turnover and being told to suck it up.

Tired of having to put in my PTO a year in advance to make other people's jobs easier.

Tired of having sick days and yet not being able to use them unless I'm literally dying, as it affects colleagues.

Tired of being on call.

Tired of seeing no job opportunities in desirable locations.

Sick to my stomach knowing I have sacrificed decades of my life for this.

Pathology is sh##t.

Anyone who has made a career change, please pitch in. I'm open to all suggestions. I just know this isn't it for me.

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[HmanPath]

I have no idea how you feel about forensic pathology, but that would be a significant change from surgical pathology, and only set you back a year or so to do a fellowship. However, if you hate autopsies or the legal aspect of the job, don't do it! Cheers.

 

[time to move on]

I have no idea how you feel about forensic pathology, but that would be a significant change from surgical pathology, and only set you back a year or so to do a fellowship. However, if you hate autopsies or the legal aspect of the job, don't do it! Cheers.

Not my thing. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm planning on leaving medicine altogether. Trying to find options where my MD AP/CP degree is useful. Haven't found many options so far.

 

[fecalith]

My department is hiring... 300K plus, plenty of windows everywhere. Of course attendings never gross or pick up extra work from any supportive staff. That would be a joke.. They are very pampered!! lol They have at least 6 weeks of vacation and you not on service every week. Sometimes not even every other week. Call for AP attendings is twice per year.
If you have GYN experience and interest in breast or cyto let me know and I will send you the listing...

 

[coroner]

Man...cheerful bunch aren't we

The dark side of our threads have been growing stronger even with Thrombus gone banned. Where's BU Path and Yaah for some pep talks when you need them!

I feel this is about when Webb chimes in and suggests starting a tattoo removal parlor or tree-cutting business (j/k Webb).

 

[BamaAlum]

Sounds like you are in the wrong job not the wrong career. Sometimes it takes a few moves to find the right fit. Doesn’t sound like you have found it. I would be looking for a better job. There are desirable jobs out there especially with experience. Start beating the bushes.

 

[KeratinPearls]

My department is hiring... 300K plus, plenty of windows everywhere. Of course attendings never gross or pick up extra work from any supportive staff. That would be a joke.. They are very pampered!! lol They have at least 6 weeks of vacation and you not on service every week. Sometimes not even every other week. Call for AP attendings is twice per year.
If you have GYN experience and interest in breast or cyto let me know and I will send you the listing...

300k+ at what professor level? Assistant? Do you do general surgpath in addition to those sub specialty areas you mentioned?

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

Man...cheerful bunch aren't we

The dark side of our threads have been growing stronger even with Thrombus gone banned. Where's BU Path and Yaah for some pep talks when you need them!

I feel this is about when Webb chimes in and suggests starting a tattoo removal parlor or tree-cutting business (j/k Webb).

Cutting down trees has been a huge money maker.

He better start looking for a rural pathology gig, then get bunch of side hustles going. Remember you are a one percenter.

 

[fecalith]

300k+ at what professor level? Assistant? Do you do general surgpath in addition to those sub specialty areas you mentioned?

It starts from assistant. It is only strictly subspecialty. Most attendings have to cover two subspecialties. Hemepath belongs to CP. Only call, which is two weeks per year, is general because you cover all AP. However, this program is very CP heavy (blood bank is 85% of the calls together with mislabel specimens, chemistry and heme), with separate CP coverage, so the chances of getting called for AP are very slim close to none. By 7 pm all frozens have been sent and they are extremely rare during the weekends. No autopsy coverage at all (there is a dedicated autopsy director and two neuropathologist that cover that). Most attendings are out by 3! More like a 9-3 pm. Except from the derms lol it is derm heavy too. No state tax!

 

[deleted314957]

Cutting down trees has been a huge money maker.

He better start looking for a rural pathology gig, then get bunch of side hustles going. Remember you are a one percenter.

Boy, that is a no *hitter. My Son just had a very large tree removed from his residential lot and it was something like $4600! This was one where they have to start on top and cut and lower limbs one at a time till trunk can be felled then stump ground.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

Boy, that is a no *hitter. My Son just had a very large tree removed from his residential lot and it was something like $4600! This was one where they have to start on top and cut and lower limbs one at a time till trunk can be felled then stump ground.

I know. I am making a killing off that business. Doesn't take many trees to earn more than you will as a pathologist. I feel like I should offer a masterclass to help all the exploited and downtrodden in our field. I was once like them and then I grew a pair and realized I was a one percenter.

 

[fecalith]

I know. I am making a killing off that business. Doesn't take many trees to earn more than you will as a pathologist. I feel like I should offer a masterclass to help all the exploited and downtrodden in our field. I was once like them and then I grew a pair and realized I was a one percenter.

I should have been a plumber or a contractor....$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[KeratinPearls]

I know. I am making a killing off that business. Doesn't take many trees to earn more than you will as a pathologist. I feel like I should offer a masterclass to help all the exploited and downtrodden in our field. I was once like them and then I grew a pair and realized I was a one percenter.

Looking forward to your masterclass. I can see it now… “Rural Pathologist turned multimillionaire tree cutter.”

 

[SetecAstronomy]

I know. I am making a killing off that business. Doesn't take many trees to earn more than you will as a pathologist. I feel like I should offer a masterclass to help all the exploited and downtrodden in our field. I was once like them and then I grew a pair and realized I was a one percenter.

Sign me up! 😉

 

[SetecAstronomy]

I should have been a plumber or a contractor....$$$$$$$$$$$

After owning a house, I've found I quite enjoy fixing the plumbing (where I can, of course). Also, between med school and the al the autopsies, dealing with sewage/$#!t ain't that bad.

 

[fecalith]

After owning a house, I've found I quite enjoy fixing the plumbing (where I can, of course). Also, between med school and the al the autopsies, dealing with sewage/$#!t ain't that bad.

I used to unclog the disgusting, filled with dead lobster shells drainer at red lobster...i guess i have some experience....LOL

 

[gbwillner]

After owning a house, I've found I quite enjoy fixing the plumbing (where I can, of course). Also, between med school and the al the autopsies, dealing with sewage/$#!t ain't that bad.

There is only one important rule in plumbing.

**** rolls downhill.

 

[Spikebd]

I sense a significant exodus in pathology brewing.... I hear whispers like this is all around.

soon. Soon.

 

[HeyDalaron]

Pardon me for jumping on the woke bandwagon, but I am sure that the massive lack of respect for pathology as a medical speciality is rooted in systemic racism, as most pathologists are IMGs from non-white countries.

 

[deleted314957]

There is only one important rule in plumbing.

**** rolls downhill.

and NEVER over tighten a compression joint

 

[deleted314957]

Pardon me for jumping on the woke bandwagon, but I am sure that the massive lack of respect for pathology as a medical speciality is rooted in systemic racism, as most pathologists are IMGs from non-white countries.

I disagree completely. I believe a VERY significant minority OR a majority of physicians in the USA are non-caucasian.
That distinction, sadly, can be made by looking at someone.
No one, without some in depth inquiry, knows any physicians IMG/NON-IMG status OR their specialty.
If your position was correct i would expect to see similar lack of respect for many other specialties.

 

[HeyDalaron]

I disagree completely. I believe a VERY significant minority OR a majority of physicians in the USA are non-caucasian.
That distinction, sadly, can be made by looking at someone.
No one, without some in depth inquiry, knows any physicians IMG/NON-IMG status OR their specialty.
If your position was correct i would expect to see similar lack of respect for many other specialties.

Maybe my experience is different than yours, but what I have seen is that pathology is disproportionately staffed by heavily accented non-white IMGs. They are also bossed around by admins and talked down to by surgeons and other staff, and fail to stand up for themselves since they feel, likely correctly, that nobody else has their backs because of the systemic racism.

In Canada, where I practice, pathologists are disproportionately salaried employees of the hospitals, easily controlled and not paid for extra work, while other doctors are independent contractors with control over their volumes and fee for service billings. I can think of no other field in Canada that has a disproportionate IMG constituent as much as pathology. I would expect the same in the USA given the fact that over 2/3 of residency spots are filled by IMGs.

It may not be the only reason for the discrepancy in respect, but I do think it contributes.

 

[Nilf]

I know. I am making a killing off that business. Doesn't take many trees to earn more than you will as a pathologist. I feel like I should offer a masterclass to help all the exploited and downtrodden in our field. I was once like them and then I grew a pair and realized I was a one percenter.

Sorry to highjack the thread, but what is your exact role in this business (other than the profit-taking), and what kind of economic moat do you have? I know an illegal , uhm undocumented worker, who just started his own tree cutting business. I cannot even fathom how I could compete with him, I mean last time I climbed a tree was when I was 16 year old.

 

[deleted314957]

Maybe my experience is different than yours, but what I have seen is that pathology is disproportionately staffed by heavily accented non-white IMGs. They are also bossed around by admins and talked down to by surgeons and other staff, and fail to stand up for themselves since they feel, likely correctly, that nobody else has their backs because of the systemic racism.

In Canada, where I practice, pathologists are disproportionately salaried employees of the hospitals, easily controlled and not paid for extra work, while other doctors are independent contractors with control over their volumes and fee for service billings. I can think of no other field in Canada that has a disproportionate IMG constituent as much as pathology. I would expect the same in the USA given the fact that over 2/3 of residency spots are filled by IMGs.

It may not be the only reason for the discrepancy in respect, but I do think it contributes.

Systemic racism🤢🤮. Please. And, whenever you get the urge to toss out the “racism” bomb( or fascist or nazi, etc.) I suggest you review the difference between racism, bigotry and prejudice. #1 isn’t that common. #2 is much more frequent and #3 is almost universal among mankind- to pre-judge.

If you have systemic racism in Canada, that is tragic.

 

[HowlPrenderghast]

Hello all.

Pathologist with about 6 years of experience.

Tired of being controlled by glorified managers who work their 9-5 from the comfort of their home.

Tired of spending my days stuck in a closet (windowless office) as a salve to other physicians who have zero respect for our specialty.

Tired of being overworked and having glorified managers say the numbers don't support that.

Tired of having to pick up extra work from PA's, cytotechs and pathologist turnover and being told to suck it up.

Tired of having to put in my PTO a year in advance to make other people's jobs easier.

Tired of having sick days and yet not being able to use them unless I'm literally dying, as it affects colleagues.

Tired of being on call.

Tired of seeing no job opportunities in desirable locations.

Sick to my stomach knowing I have sacrificed decades of my life for this.

Pathology is sh##t.

Anyone who has made a career change, please pitch in. I'm open to all suggestions. I just know this isn't it for me.

As an aspiring Pathologist who is planning to enter residency soon (still undecided), this is incredibly sad and disheartening to hear. I wish you all the success of your chosen career path, whatever it may be.

 

[HeyDalaron]

Systemic racism🤢🤮. Please. And, whenever you get the urge to toss out the “racism” bomb( or fascist or nazi, etc.) I suggest you review the difference between racism, bigotry and prejudice. #1 isn’t that common. #2 is much more frequent and #3 is almost universal among mankind- to pre-judge.

If you have systemic racism in Canada, that is tragic.

I respect your expertise and opinions on matters pathology, however, to opine that there exists no such thing as systemic racism in modern professional society is an unfortunately incorrect assertion. I will preface the following by saying that I am about as un-woke as one can be, and believe that success should be based on one's merits relative to those who started in a similar place.

Whether you call it racism or bigotry or prejudice is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that individuals who have foreign names, non-white skin colors and accented English are treated in a way that is worse than those who do not, and that a field that is disproportionately comprised of people with those characteristics is given a worse status than others.

 

[Napoleon1801]

I respect your expertise and opinions on matters pathology, however, to opine that there exists no such thing as systemic racism in modern professional society is an unfortunately incorrect assertion. I will preface the following by saying that I am about as un-woke as one can be, and believe that success should be based on one's merits relative to those who started in a similar place.

Whether you call it racism or bigotry or prejudice is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that individuals who have foreign names, non-white skin colors and accented English are treated in a way that is worse than those who do not, and that a field that is disproportionately comprised of people with those characteristics is given a worse status than others.

There is definitely a level of discrimination in medicine (and in the general public) when it comes to IMGs. There are some extremely intelligent and highly successful people, but there are also the non-competitive and non-English proficient applicants who fill desperate residency programs. Applying a label to all IMGs is unprofessional.

 

[deleted314957]

I respect your expertise and opinions on matters pathology, however, to opine that there exists no such thing as systemic racism in modern professional society is an unfortunately incorrect assertion. I will preface the following by saying that I am about as un-woke as one can be, and believe that success should be based on one's merits relative to those who started in a similar place.

Whether you call it racism or bigotry or prejudice is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that individuals who have foreign names, non-white skin colors and accented English are treated in a way that is worse than those who do not, and that a field that is disproportionately comprised of people with those characteristics is given a worse status than others.

There is a HUGE difference between racism, bigotry and prejudice. That was my whole post. Do you think Himmler was prejudice? Racism, my friend, is real “untermensch”
stuff, eugenics, etc. You really cannot reason with or correct most racist folks. Bigots( i don’t like the Swiss) and folks who are prejudiced (must’a been a Swiss guy who did it)
are on a whole different plane.

Words matter.

Now, to your point about non-whites generally being treated worse, etc., I agree wholeheartedly. But only rarely is it racism. Bigoted and prejudiced people can often have their eyes opened by intermingling and working with such folks.

But, I do not buy the “systemic racism” screed.

 

[Doc_Ock]

If you just want a cushy gig there are plenty of medspas that will pay you big bucks for a few signatures as the medical director. I know people say it's risky but I've met a couple that did it and sweet jesus they're living the good life.

 

[Napoleon1801]

If you just want a cushy gig there are plenty of medspas that will pay you big bucks for a few signatures as the medical director. I know people say it's risky but I've met a couple that did it and sweet jesus they're living the good life.

I'm surprised how frequent these are and that there have not been more crack downs. We had a cardiothoracic surgeon ditch his surgery practice to open one up.

 

[pathslides]

Hello all.

Pathologist with about 6 years of experience.

Tired of being controlled by glorified managers who work their 9-5 from the comfort of their home.

Tired of spending my days stuck in a closet (windowless office) as a salve to other physicians who have zero respect for our specialty.

Tired of being overworked and having glorified managers say the numbers don't support that.

Tired of having to pick up extra work from PA's, cytotechs and pathologist turnover and being told to suck it up.

Tired of having to put in my PTO a year in advance to make other people's jobs easier.

Tired of having sick days and yet not being able to use them unless I'm literally dying, as it affects colleagues.

Tired of being on call.

Tired of seeing no job opportunities in desirable locations.

Sick to my stomach knowing I have sacrificed decades of my life for this.

Pathology is sh##t.

Anyone who has made a career change, please pitch in. I'm open to all suggestions. I just know this isn't it for me.

Dang dude, it’s not the field of pathology, your job just blows.

Community practice pathology is so cush. Learn to be efficient. I now make more than our general surgeons and prob do 5-6 hours of dedicated work per day.

Covid has only solidified that pathology is the best specialty. Don’t dog on the field when your job blows.

 

[Iceman24]

The fact of the matter is that individuals who have foreign names, non-white skin colors and accented English are treated in a way that is worse than those who do not, and that a field that is disproportionately comprised of people with those characteristics is given a worse status than others.

It wouldn't have mattered if the job market in path isn't that horrible.
I have a lot of friends who are IMGs/non-white/accent etc, all of them were able to find well-paying jobs with the perfect work-life balance. The pay, in fact, way better then in my former co-residents in pathology and hours are pretty much the same.

 

[man_men]

Are pathology jobs non-existent everywhere? Or is it simply restricted to urban areas or large hospitals?

In other words, can a trained pathologist find job as long as he/she is willing to move anywhere across the US?

 

[KeratinPearls]

Are pathology jobs non-existent everywhere? Or is it simply restricted to urban areas or large hospitals?

In other words, can a trained pathologist find job as long as he/she is willing to move anywhere across the US?

Yes, you will find a job “somewhere”. Jobs are available in larger cities but from my experience are few relative to the number of graduates.

 

[Vicinal]

The whole IMG thing is an issue mostly because of how IMGs going into pathology train in their home countries. In many countries medical school is more like a technical school and students enter after the US equivalent of high school. They are obviously good at taking tests. They hear that path is better than IM and FM lifestyle wise from other colleagues that successfully matched in a poorly managed and poorly run specialty. They are often from prominent families in their home countries and medical school for them is either free or they have no educational debt. They get a position in US and stay in academics usually and change the way academic pathology was intended in the USA. Academics in pathology was the place where significant advances were made in the understanding of disease processes at the basic level with important contributions to science. It has now mostly clinical research whatever that means in criteria that are based in morphology with other fields developing the testing that actually advances the field (molecular etc.). There is nothing wrong with wanting to come to the US and get paid more to be a doctor than the country of origin. The problem is that medical education is paid for predominantly by US tax dollars. In a field that is over saturated with IMGs that have zero debt, salaries can be low balled. US grads with debt and great training in college with a completely different educational system have no reason to go into pathology with the way it’s being run. You will not be able to get a good return on your debt burden and the places you train don’t have the ability to be real academic centers anymore. They have big names and some person that teaches criteria mostly histomorphologically. This is important but way too saturated. Way too many books and variants of books on the similar topics. This is not really academics. There needs to be a reset of some sort. At least 30-50% of programs need to be gutted. The only way this would work is a hard core CMS audit. There needs to a minimum of 15000 accessions per resident. CP didactic only rotations need to changed. No other specialty has this much waste of tax payer dollars to have FTEs just hanging out.

 

[KeratinPearls]

The whole IMG thing is an issue mostly because of how IMGs going into pathology train in their home countries. In many countries medical school is more like a technical school and students enter after the US equivalent of high school. They are obviously good at taking tests. They hear that path is better than IM and FM lifestyle wise from other colleagues that successfully matched in a poorly managed and poorly run specialty. They are often from prominent families in their home countries and medical school for them is either free or they have no educational debt. They get a position in US and stay in academics usually and change the way academic pathology was intended in the USA. Academics in pathology was the place where significant advances were made in the understanding of disease processes at the basic level with important contributions to science. It has now mostly clinical research whatever that means in criteria that are based in morphology with other fields developing the testing that actually advances the field (molecular etc.). There is nothing wrong with wanting to come to the US and get paid more to be a doctor than the country of origin. The problem is that medical education is paid for predominantly by US tax dollars. In a field that is over saturated with IMGs that have zero debt, salaries can be low balled. US grads with debt and great training in college with a completely different educational system have no reason to go into pathology with the way it’s being run. You will not be able to get a good return on your debt burden and the places you train don’t have the ability to be real academic centers anymore. They have big names and some person that teaches criteria mostly histomorphologically. This is important but way too saturated. Way too many books and variants of books on the similar topics. This is not really academics. There needs to be a reset of some sort. At least 30-50% of programs need to be gutted. The only way this would work is a hard core CMS audit. There needs to a minimum of 15000 accessions per resident. CP didactic only rotations need to changed. No other specialty has this much waste of tax payer dollars to have FTEs just hanging out.

CP rotations where I did my residency was probably the easiest rotation in all of medicine lmao.

 

[deleted314957]

Are pathology jobs non-existent everywhere? Or is it simply restricted to urban areas or large hospitals?

In other words, can a trained pathologist find job as long as he/she is willing to move anywhere across the US?

The answer is yes, and that is contingent on your geographic comment.

 

[deleted314957]

CP rotations where I did my residency was probably the easiest rotation in all of medicine lmao.

That’s too bad. Most CP rotations are a joke from what i understand. Makes it tough to be a medical director in a hospital.

 

[KeratinPearls]

That’s too bad. Most CP rotations are a joke from what i understand. Makes it tough to be a medical director in a hospital.

Yes it is too bad. I read what MedicalDirector posted on here a few months ago about how great his CP training was. I’m assuming he went to a top program. CP training at big academic centers should be very good since there’s volume and good teachers/experts.

I mean if I was doing CP training with Bobbi Pritt at Mayo, I probably would’ve learned a heckuva lot from her in Micro compared to where I trained. Mayo and other programs with large reference labs would probably blow most programs away in CP training just because of the sheer volume of material/great teachers to learn from.

Many mid to lower tier programs have crappy CP training. You basically just study on your own. When I read medicaldirectors post, I realized how different the CP training/experience was between top programs versus other places.

I remember he mentioned that he didn’t even have to study for CP boards because his attendings basically taught him everything he needed to know.

 

[fecalith]

CP where I am training is crazy busy. I regret so much doing AP/CP, especially since I am doing forensics 100%. 60 autopsies during first year, done with forensic core elective and audition rotation at the NYOCME already arrange. My program is so CP heavy that even call is 90% CP. They wake you up multiple times during the night for transfusion reactions, massives, chemistry audits, heme path and all that. I am on transfusion and I have to run a crazy busy aphaeresis program and all the blood bank issues non stop. So I am so jealous of all of you who had very light CP rotations. I guess for someone who wants to be good in both AP and CP my program would be ideal. However, i am experiencing a CP inferno!!!!! Help!!!

 

[Med Director New England]

Yes it is too bad. I read what MedicalDirector posted on here a few months ago about how great his CP training was. I’m assuming he went to a top program. CP training at big academic centers should be very good since there’s volume and good teachers/experts.

I mean if I was doing CP training with Bobbi Pritt at Mayo, I probably would’ve learned a heckuva lot from her in Micro compared to where I trained. Mayo and other programs with large reference labs would probably blow most programs away in CP training just because of the sheer volume of material/great teachers to learn from.

Many mid to lower tier programs have crappy CP training. You basically just study on your own. When I read medicaldirectors post, I realized how different the CP training/experience was between top programs versus other places.

I remember he mentioned that he didn’t even have to study for CP boards because his attendings basically taught him everything he needed to know.

Yes my CP training was excellent and it has helped me tremendously. Many of my CP faculty taught their discipline in an AP like fashion - ex in DI I previewed speps and pre-entered what I thought, same for heme / coagulation with MD review of peripheral smears and coag works ups. All CP rotations included time with lead techs who showed how they did their piece of the work with emphasis on broader concepts like proper QC, initial validation, etc.

 

[futuredoc331]

That’s too bad. Most CP rotations are a joke from what i understand. Makes it tough to be a medical director in a hospita

 

[TrojanRaggy]

The whole IMG thing is an issue mostly because of how IMGs going into pathology train in their home countries. In many countries medical school is more like a technical school and students enter after the US equivalent of high school. They are obviously good at taking tests. They hear that path is better than IM and FM lifestyle wise from other colleagues that successfully matched in a poorly managed and poorly run specialty. They are often from prominent families in their home countries and medical school for them is either free or they have no educational debt. They get a position in US and stay in academics usually and change the way academic pathology was intended in the USA. Academics in pathology was the place where significant advances were made in the understanding of disease processes at the basic level with important contributions to science. It has now mostly clinical research whatever that means in criteria that are based in morphology with other fields developing the testing that actually advances the field (molecular etc.). There is nothing wrong with wanting to come to the US and get paid more to be a doctor than the country of origin. The problem is that medical education is paid for predominantly by US tax dollars. In a field that is over saturated with IMGs that have zero debt, salaries can be low balled. US grads with debt and great training in college with a completely different educational system have no reason to go into pathology with the way it’s being run. You will not be able to get a good return on your debt burden and the places you train don’t have the ability to be real academic centers anymore. They have big names and some person that teaches criteria mostly histomorphologically. This is important but way too saturated. Way too many books and variants of books on the similar topics. This is not really academics. There needs to be a reset of some sort. At least 30-50% of programs need to be gutted. The only way this would work is a hard core CMS audit. There needs to a minimum of 15000 accessions per resident. CP didactic only rotations need to changed. No other specialty has this much waste of tax payer dollars to have FTEs just hanging out.

I am an IMG but it is hard to argue with anything that was said here 😀

 

[DadIsFat]

CP where I am training is crazy busy. I regret so much doing AP/CP, especially since I am doing forensics 100%. 60 autopsies during first year, done with forensic core elective and audition rotation at the NYOCME already arrange. My program is so CP heavy that even call is 90% CP. They wake you up multiple times during the night for transfusion reactions, massives, chemistry audits, heme path and all that. I am on transfusion and I have to run a crazy busy aphaeresis program and all the blood bank issues non stop. So I am so jealous of all of you who had very light CP rotations. I guess for someone who wants to be good in both AP and CP my program would be ideal. However, i am experiencing a CP inferno!!!!! Help!!!

Is doing solely AP a possibility at most programs? I am in M2 and interested in pathology, but specifically forensics. Thanks!

 

[fecalith]

Is doing solely AP a possibility at most programs? I am in M2 and interested in pathology, but specifically forensics. Thanks!

My program doesn't offer that option, you have to be AP/CP. They believe being double boarded is more beneficial.
However, there are plenty of programs that can offer AP-only or CP-only. Some programs let you drop either AP or CP if you start as AP/CP and then change your mind. Unfortunately, I do not have that option. Also, there are very limited programs that offer AP/NP. I would have gone with the AP/NP option or just AP-only if I knew what I know now back then.
For forensics, AP-only would suffice.

 

[deleted314957]

I do not know if they are around anymore but ages ago there were some AP/FP 4 year programs.

 

[fecalith]

I do not know if they are around anymore but ages ago there were some AP/FP 4 year programs.

I am almost 99.9% sure those don’t exist nowadays. It would have been perfect for me lol

 

[DadIsFat]

Thank you! @fecalith and @mikesheree!

 

[ElementMD]

It starts from assistant. It is only strictly subspecialty. Most attendings have to cover two subspecialties. Hemepath belongs to CP. Only call, which is two weeks per year, is general because you cover all AP. However, this program is very CP heavy (blood bank is 85% of the calls together with mislabel specimens, chemistry and heme), with separate CP coverage, so the chances of getting called for AP are very slim close to none. By 7 pm all frozens have been sent and they are extremely rare during the weekends. No autopsy coverage at all (there is a dedicated autopsy director and two neuropathologist that cover that). Most attendings are out by 3! More like a 9-3 pm. Except from the derms lol it is derm heavy too. No state tax!

I graduate in July 2022. Please send me more info.

 

[Spaziergängerin]

My program doesn't offer that option, you have to be AP/CP. They believe being double boarded is more beneficial.
However, there are plenty of programs that can offer AP-only or CP-only. Some programs let you drop either AP or CP if you start as AP/CP and then change your mind. Unfortunately, I do not have that option. Also, there are very limited programs that offer AP/NP. I would have gone with the AP/NP option or just AP-only if I knew what I know now back then.
For forensics, AP-only would suffice.

If it is of any comfort, this is not wasted time for you. You are going into a field where you have to really understand the medical record in a way other people rarely do, so having a solid CP foundation will make you much more well rounded and a more competent diagnostician even if you never use it directly. Also, it will open up job opportunities in areas where the forensics lab also needs an assistant director, so they may only want AP/CP for those positions.