MyMajors Career Profile

Typical Tasks

Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.

Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.

Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.

Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.

What kind of work is this?

Investigative

Studying, Research based work

Realistic

Practical, Physical Work

Conventional

Organized, Procedural Work

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Achievement/Effort

Stress Tolerance

Analytical Thinking

What key skills are needed for this job?

Reading Comprehension

Critical Thinking

Writing

Active Listening

Complex Problem Solving

Active Learning

Expected Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Biology

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Common Activities

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Processing Information

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Documenting/Recording Information

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Education & Preparation

Some occupations may require additional education, advanced degrees, and years of experience in the field.

Talk to your support team on campus about this career pathway and additional degree information.

Job Zone 5

Extensive Preparation Needed

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Typical Education Required

Education a new hire may need

Post-doctoral training 62%
Doctoral degree 29%
Master's degree 6%
Professional degree 3%

Source: O*NET Education, Training & Experience data

More Info

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Physicians, Pathologists

What they do:

Also Called:

Typical Tasks

A day in the life

What kind of work is this?

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

What key skills are needed for this job?