Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Pathway Director

Drexel Fourth Year Discipline Based Pathway System

• Pathways Overview
• Pathology Pathway Overview (Student Handbook)

Pathway Director's Advice On Commonly Asked Questions

Go to the Drexel Careers Development Center for information on residency planning, match results, FREIDA (lists of residency training programs across the country) and more.

Drexel and Clinical Site Residency Programs

• Drexel University College of Medicine
• Allegheny General Hospital

Drexel Medical Student Interest Group

N/A

Specialty Description

A pathologist deals with the causes and nature of disease and contributes to diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment through knowledge gained by the laboratory application of the biologic, chemical, and physical sciences. This specialist uses information gathered from the microscopic examination of tissue specimens, cells, and body fluids, and from clinical laboratory tests on body fluids and secretions for the diagnosis, exclusion, and monitoring of disease. (Source: The American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to Physician Specialties. Evanston, IL: American Board of Medical Specialties; February 2008.)

Time Requirement

See ACGME for current requirements: http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/home/home.asp
Residency training for pathologists is three to four years. Residents can receive their training in either combined anatomic pathology and clinical pathology (which requires four years of training), anatomic pathology only (requiring three years of training), or clinical pathology only (three years of training). Practice in a pathology subspecialty requires one additional year of training (two additional years for neuropathology).

National Organizations

The national specialty organizations can provide medical students with excellent resources as well as updates on current activities within the field, conferences, and on-going research opportunities and research funding.

• American Board of Pathology
• American Society for Investigative Pathology
• American Society for Clinical Pathology
• College of American Pathologists

Subspecialties

Residency Application and Match Info*

*The number of applications and programs ranked will vary based on many factors.  Students should seek advice from their Pathway Advisor and/or the Career Development Center in conjunction with the data above.
**Data drawn from 2008 United States Graduates (USG) ERAS Statistics for Residency Specialties. 17Jun2009.
***National Resident Matching Program Characteristics of Matched Seniors, 2006-2008. 17Jun2009.

AAMC - Careers in Medicine

General Information: http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/pub_pathology.htm
(Log in for more helpful data to include: Personal Characteristics / Match data / Residency Requirements / Workforce Statistics / Compensation)

Specialty Specific Opportunities

For external research, volunteering, educational, and other opportunities check the Career Development Center's pages on Research and Community, Educational, and Externship Opportunities. Most of these opportunities are summer programs however some are available throughout the year.