Pathology
Put simply, pathology is the study of disease. I've always been fascinated by the topic, and so I sought to enter a field where I could learn and do what I'm passionate about. Careers and their requirements vary between countries. There are also non-healthcare related career fields you can investigate in relation to the topic. However, I wish to give a brief overview of some healthcare related lab/pathology careers in the US. ---- **HIGH SCHOOL/GED + CERTIFICATION** - [**Phlebotomist**](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/phlebotomists.htm) - A phlebotomist draws blood for laboratory testing. It often requires a certification. **HIGH SCHOOL/GED OR BASIC UNDERGRADUTE EDUCATION** - **Laboratory assistant** - A laboratory assistant will receive laboratory samples that come into the lab, ensure everything is correct, enter information into the computer, and may occasionally perform very simple, basic pre-testing procedures (ex: centrifuge samples and pour the resulting liquid into various tubes for testing). Specific requirements to get a job as a lab assistant vary, but may range from only a high school education to a basic undergraduate science degree. **ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE** (typically 2 year degree program and possible certification) - [**Histotechnician (HT)**](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm) - A histotechnician is involved in processing glass slides of human tissue for the pathologist. They cut small portions of tissue into incredibly thin slices, mount them on a slide, then stain them so the cells can be seen. - [**Medical laboratory technician (MLT)**](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm) - A medical laboratory scientist performs testing on blood, urine, feces, and other body fluids. It can be a varied career with many different testing departments involved (examples: chemistry, hematology, blood banking, microbiology). **BACHELOR'S DEGREE** (typically 4 year degree program and possible certification) - [**Histotechnologist (HTL)**](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm) - Similar to a histotechnician, but has more education, is generally paid more, and can do a bit more advanced procedures/testing. - [**Medical laboratory scientist/medical technologist (MLS/MT)**](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm) - Similar to a medical laboratory technician, but has more education, is generally paid more, and can do a bit more advanced procedures/testing. - [**Cytotechnologist**](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm) - a cytotechnoligst examines slides of body cells (not blood and not tissue) under a microscope to screen for disease. They are most known for reading PAP smears. (Apologies if this is a poor description as I am least familiar with what a cytotechnologist does). **MASTER'S DEGREE** (an undergraduate degree and an additional 2 year graduate degree) - **Pathologists' assistant (PA)** - A pathologists' assistant has special training in the macroscopic appearance of disease. They document and examine things as small as tissue biopsies to large multi-organ resections. They take relevant samples to then be further processed by a histotechnician/histotechnologist. A pathologists' assistant may also perform autopsies under direct or indirect supervision of a pathologist. **DOCTORAL DEGREE** (an undergraduate degree followed by medical school and then a medical residency program) - [**Pathologist**](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm) - A pathologist is a physician with special training in both the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of disease. In a hospital setting, a large portion of their work may involve examination of slides of human tissue or fluid under a microscope for the ultimate diagnosis of disease and the staging of cancer. They may also perform autopsies. A pathologist may also act as a lab director. They do not see patients, but instead answer questions and correlate care with other physicians. ---- You can divide the above careers into two different types of careers - clinical pathology (blood, urine, feces, body fluids) and anatomic pathology (tissue biopsies, parial or whole organs). - **Clinical pathology careers** - phlebotomist, laboratory assistant, medical laboratory technician/scientist, pathologist - **Anatomic pathology careers** - laboratory assistant, histotechnician/histotechnologist, pathologists' assistant, pathologist (Generally I think cytotechnologists are under the anatomic pathology umbrella, but they deal with individual cells as opposed to slices of tissue.) --- The order of handling for an anatomic specimen is generally: laboratory assistant --> pathologists' assistant --> histotechnician/histotechnologist --> pathologist. The order of handling for a clinical lab specimen is generally: phlebotomist (only involved if the specimen is blood) --> laboratory assistant --> medical laboratory technician/scientist OR cytotechnologist --> pathologist (however, the pathologist is often not involved for basic, routine testing)
Original credit here: https://theawkwardyeti.com/comic/gall-bladders-day/
This is a very interesting and imo scary case that relates to a post I made the other day. Enjoy!