whats up with odd pathologists?

[randomlogik]

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Ok, before taking pathology this year, I was thinking that pathology was a field that i am interesting in pursuing. i know that our instructors are not necessiary the best sampling of pathologists in general, but these people are really odd. its hard to pinpoint exactly what it is, but they seem to lack the normal social abilities. there is this one particular resident that all my classmates are talking about. the first time we met him, he was teaching a tutorial session, and kept making a stream of obnoxious comments and was rather crass. Next, he was instructing the phlebotomy lab where we had to draw blood on each other. He proceeded to demonstrate by drawing blood on himself, which I guess in itself isnt unusual. It's just the way that he did it that made him seem like a proficient drug user. Maybe I'm seeing way to much into this, but I am just wondering if what i observed is a trend in pathology.

 

[Doctor B.]

The pathologists at my medical school were very normal, grounded people; they were my favorite faculty! Our residents are nearly all regular people with good social skills. But, there are always some in every residency that fit the nerdy pathologist stereotype.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Same here Doctor B. When I did my path rotation, almost all of the attendings and residents were down-to-earth people with normal social skills. Sure, there were a few who were a little different and quirky but they were still good people. Out of all the faculty I've worked with in the variety of med school rotations, I would have to say that the pathology faculty were more laid-back too which is a plus.

 

[Primate]

And there are so many well adjusted, happy attendings in surgery and internal medicine?

There are more than a few "odd" pathologists here, but they are nice, for the most part. If a surgeon is a little different, it usually manifests as being an aggressive a$$hole, and everyone thinks that's normal. If a pathologist is quiet, then they're a freak. Go figure.

In truth, I've met some socially akward older attendings at several institutions, but they've been nice enough. The residents I've met and my class of applicants are all normal - stone cold normal socially, etc. Fun people, even. Also, unlike in many other disciplines (see above), normal in path equates to normal in the rest of the world. "Normal" in surgery would not fly in just about any other professional circumstance (that's right, medicine allows people to behave like bratty little kids - still not sure why this is so).

P

 

[yaah]

If you spend significant time in any field of medicine, or in fact any career in life, you will meet some "normal" people as well as some "odd" people. People tend to let their biases color the way they see things (Hey, I took intro psych, so I'm qualified to analyze these things). Thus, if you think surgeons are aggressive and arrogant, the aggressive and arrogant ones will be those that you feel reflect the field. But there are plenty of nice people, good teachers, calm individuals, in the field of surgery.

And likewise, there are all kinds of people who become pathologists. Nice people, mean people, type A, type B, lazy people, slackers, gunners, dopeheads, IV drug users, atheists, religious, family men, mothers, buff studs, babes, ugly people, animal lovers, animal haters, antisocials, gregarious sorts, you get the idea.

Thus, to be sure, there are nerds in pathology. But most people are individuals who may have certain quirks. Quirks are what make life interesting and fun. And, like others, the pathologists at my med school were great people who enjoyed teaching and inspired me to learn and challenge myself.

Clearly, if one goes into path, you are not going to get along with, or necessarily like, everyone you work with. Are there oddballs? Of course. If you are looking for a career without oddballs then I wish you good luck, and you should probably work out of your home. As for the potential drug use, well, I don't know what to tell you. Normal healthy individuals do not inject IV drugs.

But yes, it is clearly a trend that you met a pathologist who makes crass comments and draws blood on himself. 🙄

 

[Stinger86]

The path residents at my school are all really cool and fun to be around. They are some of the most laid back residents I've ever seen (other than the psych ones) and nearly every one of them seems so happy that I have a hard time believing they're somehow involved with medicine.

The only problem with the attendings is that maybe half of them don't speak English as a first language, which can get in the way sometimes. Other than that, they're all great people.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

medicine allows people to behave like bratty little kids - still not sure why this is so).

I could venture a guess but then the moderators would be on my ass for it 🙂

 

[yaah]

I could venture a guess but then the moderators would be on my ass for it 🙂

That's it. You're pre-emptively banned. 😉

There are childish people everywhere. A sad aspect of our society at large is that being obnoxious and pushy often allows you to get what you want. So some people never learn how to be nice.

There are brats everywhere. I actually think medicine has a smaller proportion of obnoxious brats than many other fields - like stockbrokers, CEOs, lawyers, and most definitely celebrities and athletes who get whatever they want by whining.

 

[cytoborg]

The pathologists at my school are much more normal than, say, the surgeons or the OB/GYNs, who sport a colorful array of chipped shoulders and power trips. (Of course there are a couple of exceptions to that, as always - a few in the aforementioned depts are great.)

The pathologists are quite easy-going and sociable, will actually talk about their weekend plans, their kids, their pets, etc.--gasp! 😱 You mean we aren't history-taking, study-quoting, med-prescribing robot-humanoid hybrids??? It seems pathologists have nothing to prove to the public...so they can relax a bit! There are a few dudes who wear bow-ties though. That's a little freaky.

 

[deschutes]

In addition to all that has already been said...

"Quiet" is not necessarily "odd". We have gotten so in-your-face as a culture that people who don't demand our attention appear to be lacking. This is true both in and out of medicine.

I sense though, that departmental heads whether in path or internal or surgery or any other field of medicine, tend NOT to be overtly gregarious or boisterous. They are comfortable where they are and don't have to be pushy-shovey to get what they want, done.

~
Was talking to a neuropathologist who is probably close to retirement now. She said that when she did med school in Scotland, it was the pathologists who knew all their (students') names.

See, nice friendly pathologists go waaaaay back 😉

 

[Primate]

There are brats everywhere. I actually think medicine has a smaller proportion of obnoxious brats than many other fields - like stockbrokers, CEOs, lawyers, and most definitely celebrities and athletes who get whatever they want by whining.

Having worked in other fields (some listed above - the biz/law ones), I've seen far more unprofessoinal behavior in medicine than outside of it. Just my observation, so take it for the n that it is.

 

[yaah]

I brought up the topic of "nerdy" and "oddball" pathologists at the hospital today. All the secretaries said they enjoy talking with people in the path department much more than other fields.

so there.

 

[Primate]

so there.

One of my favorite arguments. 😀

I actually don't find the pathologists here wierd (any more than in other departments), but there is a higher proportion of thoughtful types. This usually gets interpreted by non-medical (and even some medicos) as, "quiet in the way a necrophiliac psycho is quiet." In other words, pathies can't get a break. I obviously have found them agreable or would not have applied herein.

As for my previous post, I think wierdness and petulance can be separated (although they sometimes unhappily coexist 😉 ). I was speaking about medicine in general tolerating more enfant terribles than other fields, not implying that these folks disproportionately make a home in path.

 

[Fermata]

I've always thought that there was price to pay for any amount of intellect.

The smarter you are......the stranger you become. 😀

It's directly proportional.

 

[LADoc00]

Ok, before taking pathology this year, I was thinking that pathology was a field that i am interesting in pursuing. i know that our instructors are not necessiary the best sampling of pathologists in general, but these people are really odd. its hard to pinpoint exactly what it is, but they seem to lack the normal social abilities. there is this one particular resident that all my classmates are talking about. the first time we met him, he was teaching a tutorial session, and kept making a stream of obnoxious comments and was rather crass. Next, he was instructing the phlebotomy lab where we had to draw blood on each other. He proceeded to demonstrate by drawing blood on himself, which I guess in itself isnt unusual. It's just the way that he did it that made him seem like a proficient drug user. Maybe I'm seeing way to much into this, but I am just wondering if what i observed is a trend in pathology.

Yes, by and large we are all crazy people: Jack Kervorkian was a former head of USCAP.
I give this my 'Mountain Troll" post award for the week.

 

[yaah]

Yes, by and large we are all crazy people: Jack Kervorkian was a former head of USCAP.
I give this my 'Mountain Troll" post award for the week.

Just be happy we don't get trolls like in the MCAT forum. Dear heavens.

I GOT 38T SHOULD I RETAKE? I NEED TO GET INTO HARVARD.

SCORES ARE IN. 41. WAS DOING BETTER ON PRACTICE TESTS SO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DONE BETTER.

YOU SCORED 32 YOU STINK. ENJOY YOUR SUBPAR EDUCATION BECAUSE THAT WILL BE THE ONLY PLACE TO ACCEPT YOU.

 

[pathdr2b]

Just be happy we don't get trolls like in the MCAT forum. Dear heavens.

I GOT 38T SHOULD I RETAKE? I NEED TO GET INTO HARVARD.

SCORES ARE IN. 41. WAS DOING BETTER ON PRACTICE TESTS SO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DONE BETTER.

YOU SCORED 32 YOU STINK. ENJOY YOUR SUBPAR EDUCATION BECAUSE THAT WILL BE THE ONLY PLACE TO ACCEPT YOU.

👍

 

[b&ierstiefel]

What's an MCAT?

 

[Fermata]

What's an MCAT?

A tasty feline? 😀

Wait.....forget I said that..... 😀

Damn one track mind!

 

[deschutes]

Look, a guttermind! *shrieks*

Welcome! 😀