What You'll Do

  • Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.
  • Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
  • Manage medical laboratories.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
  • 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.
  • Conduct research and present scientific findings.
  • Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.
  • Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.
  • Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.25/5
Writing 4.12/5
Critical Thinking 4.12/5
Active Listening 4.0/5
Science 4.0/5
Active Learning 4.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 4.0/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.88/5
Monitoring 3.5/5
Instructing 3.25/5
Time Management 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Intellectual Curiosity, Dependability, Integrity, Cautiousness

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Inductive Reasoning 4.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.38/5
Oral Comprehension 4.25/5
Written Expression 4.25/5
Written Comprehension 4.12/5
Oral Expression 4.12/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.12/5
Near Vision 4.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Accounts receivables system software Anatomic pathology software Antek HealthWare LabDAQ Aspyra CyberLAB Aspyra CyberPATH Blood Bank Computer Systems Blood Bank Control System Blood bank information systems Cerner CoPathPlus Cerner Millennium PathNet Cerner Millennium PathNet Blood Bank Transfusion Cerner Millennium ProFit Clinical Information Systems CISLab CPS Clinical Software Solutions CLIN1 Suite ClinLab LIS ComBase Comp Pro Med Polytech Computer Service and Support AR 2000 Laboratory Billing System Computer Trust WinSurge Cortex Medical Management Systems Cortex Medical Billing Cortex Medical Management Systems The Gold Standard

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Intellectual Curiosity (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.95/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.89/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.75/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Anatomic Pathologist Animal Pathologist Autopsy Pathologist Chemical Pathologist Clinical Pathologist Cytologist Cytopathologist Dermatopathologist Forensic Pathologist Hematopathologist Histopathologist Immunopathologist Medical Pathologist Molecular Genetic Pathologist Molecular Pathologist Neuropathologist Ocular Pathologist Ophthalmic Pathologist Oral Pathologist Pathologist Pathologist Physician Pathology Physician Pediatric Pathologist Poultry Pathologist Surgical Pathologist Veterinary Pathologist

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.