About This Career

Diagnoses diseases and conducts lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Diagnoses diseases or studies medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
• Examines microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
• Writes pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
• Communicates pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
• Identifies the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
• Reads current literature, talks with colleagues, or participates in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
• Consults with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
• Analyzes and interprets results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
• Reviews cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
• Manages medical laboratories.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work
• Weekend work