Physician / Pathologist

Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Anatomic Pathologist; Cytopathologist; Dermatopathologist; Forensic Pathologist; Hematopathologist; Neuropathologist; Oral Pathologist; Pathologist; Surgical Pathologist

Tasks

• Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
• Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
• Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
• Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
• Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
• Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
• Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
• Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
• Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
• Manage medical laboratories.
• Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
• Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.
• Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.
• Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.

Knowledge

• Medicine and Dentistry
• Biology
• English Language
• Customer and Personal Service
• Education and Training
• Chemistry
• Administration and Management
• Computers and Electronics

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Science
• Active Learning
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Learning Strategies
• Mathematics

Abilities

• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Near Vision
• Information Ordering
• Speech Clarity
• Category Flexibility
• Flexibility of Closure
• Speech Recognition
• Fluency of Ideas
• Speed of Closure
• Selective Attention
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Originality
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Number Facility
• Perceptual Speed