Typical workday of community pathologist?

[wild0ne]

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I was just wondering if anyone could provide insight into a typical workday/workweek of a community pathologist (assuming surgical, GI, or cytopathology fellowship was completed)?

I'm on a path rotation right now, and love it. However, I'm wondering if it's misleading. The pathologist looks at slides all day long, with an occassional trip to look at frozens. It's low stress, lots of computer-interaction, and very little overhead (paperwork) with lots of actual pathology/clinical/cerebral work. My resident says to "not be fooled", since it's very atypical.

 

[djmd]

I was just wondering if anyone could provide insight into a typical workday/workweek of a community pathologist (assuming surgical, GI, or cytopathology fellowship was completed)?

I'm on a path rotation right now, and love it. However, I'm wondering if it's misleading. The pathologist looks at slides all day long, with an occassional trip to look at frozens. It's low stress, lots of computer-interaction, and very little overhead (paperwork) with lots of actual pathology/clinical/cerebral work. My resident says to "not be fooled", since it's very atypical.

I would say I doing think it is all that different except that you are likely underestimating the amount of overhead and paperwork (even for the pathologist you are working with). And a community pathologist will have all the paperwork/overhead they have and more..
That and there is definitely stress...

 

[wild0ne]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't mean to imply that there would be no/very little overhead or stress; only that it was surprisingly low (as compared to other fields of medicine).

However, I'm still wondering about the typical day of any pathologist, I suppose. I was asking more about community, because that's where ~70+% of graduates go on to practice. I would consider academic positions, but am not too interested in research.

Again, any insight would be appreciated - especially from practicing physicians.

 

[Nilf]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't mean to imply that there would be no/very little overhead or stress; only that it was surprisingly low (as compared to other fields of medicine).

However, I'm still wondering about the typical day of any pathologist, I suppose. I was asking more about community, because that's where ~70+% of graduates go on to practice. I would consider academic positions, but am not too interested in research.

Again, any insight would be appreciated - especially from practicing physicians.

Don't be discouraged. If you're never stressed, usually it means you don't have a job. Anything that carries responsibility will unavoidably cause some stress.

 

[LADoc00]

Pathology is like anything else, it can be miserable, slavish and tedious to the point of incurring suicidal ideations. It can also be wonderful, magical and more relaxing than a trip to the spa at the Four Seasons.

I realize this doesnt help you.

 

[Torsed]

Rare is the community pathologist who doesn't have that used car dealer's smirk, I've never met one that isn't happy. Usually the guys I know are home by 3 pm, most work 3 - 4 days a week. Naturally, it matters what group one winds up with. Show me another field in medicine that has better hours than that for equivalent pay (PMR maybe, what a waste of training though)?