Hello!! This is my first post on reddit so I apologize if anything comes off confusing

Here's a small bit of context about myself! I'm about to be a senior in high school so I've been researching more professions inside the medical field I've been interested in the medical field since I was really little, but recently noticed that I gravitate toward professions that are a bit more research or lab work based.

I'm very interested in pathology, specifically in becoming a pathologist assistant, I've looked into the job quite a bit but I'd like the opinion of someone who is actually in the pathology field on what to expect either as a pathologist or pathology assistant!

I have a few specific questions and also just the broad question of what it means to you in general

1. What type of classes did you end up taking in college to get to where you are today?
2. Did you always know you would be going into pathology, also, was science always your best subject in high school? Or did you grow into it?
3. What did you major in before going into med-school or program?
4. How did you manage to shadow pathologists or pathology assistants? Through residency? Or another way?
5. Where would you say is the best area to go into this field?
6. Specifically for pathologist assistants: what school did you go through for your pathologists' assistants program? Which would you personally recommend?

Also!! What type of jobs would you recommend to gain experience before applying for the program?

My last question is whether or not it's possible for a highschool student to shadow a pathologist, or at least how I could possibly go about asking a pathologist or pathology assistant whether or not I could shadow them. I realize it's difficult especially because I'm underage. Would my best option be to try joining some sort of organization, or just cold calling people?

Thank you so much! Again, sorry this post is so loaded with questions or if it's at all confusing. I'm just honestly really curious.

Chances of heme path match with literally zero publications/posters/etc research during residency pr medical school? what do you think?

How is general surgical pathology fellowship in the University of Pennsylvania? Do you guys recommend pursuing surgical pathology fellowship in U penn or MSK or Mayo clinic Rochester?

Been trying to find a cheap copy of DiMaio’s forensic path book for a while and they’re all a bit silly in price.

Anyone got any idea where I can find a cheap version / book?

Does anyone have or know where to get Washington's manual of surgical pathology 2022 edition?

What fellowship did you choose and why? What are the pros and cons? Which one do you recommend for someone who doesn't like research, wants to work in private practice at some point, and wants to enjoy the best possible work-life balance?

Are there any attendings who can share their tips that made them more efficient at signing out on the hemepath service? My derm attendings are beyond efficient because of dot phrases and staying at low power. But I don’t think those strategies are as applicable in hemepath.

How do people approach cytology slides from low/medium power? Specifically for FNA specimens. I struggle with cyto a lot. Looking at unknowns helps me, but I wanted to hear what helped yall. Any advice would be appreciated.

Also how many hours a day are you on the scope/ on a screen

Hello hello,

Quick question about ERAS/transcript. I’ve been noticing a trend that path cares a lot about genuine interest in the field for interviews etc. I absolutely love path and have done a third year elective (surgical/anatomical path), fourth year elective (forensic path) and am doing an externship next month in AP/CP.

I know this will be on my transcript, but do CDs and residencies actually look at that when screening apps for interviews (seems laborious) or is it something they flesh out in an interview so you just talk about it with them. I’ll have letters from them so I guess that’s one way they would know too…

Thanks and I apologize for my naiveté

Hello hello,

Quick question about ERAS/transcript. I’ve been noticing a trend that path cares a lot about genuine interest in the field for interviews etc. I absolutely love path and have done a third year elective (surgical/anatomical path), fourth year elective (forensic path) and am doing an externship next month in AP/CP.

I know this will be on my transcript, but do CDs and residencies actually look at that when screening apps for interviews (seems laborious) or is it something they flesh out in an interview so you just talk about it with them. I’ll have letters from them so I guess that’s one way they would know too…

Thanks and I apologize for my naiveté

anyone heard of em? use em?

Hi! I am currently a 3rd year (out of 6) non-US IMG who is interested in doing a pathology residency in the US, I would likely be applying in the 2028-2029 match.

What are your recommendations to have a good path application?

Currently I have around a year and a half of research experience in breast cancer treatment, what other research fields could I got into that would help me have a stronger application?

Would shadowing of a US pathologist help? (I live close to the border)

Any other suggestions or recommendations would be very helpful, thanks!

Do you have any example of something we use to do not based in scientitic ground?

Hello all, I am an MS4 applying into pathology this year with a strong interest in neuropathology. I am looking for residencies with (relatively, I know it’s going to be difficult regardless) good work life balance, a healthy work culture and strong basic science research and was wondering what y’all’s experience was with your residencies and whether you would recommend your program to a prospective applicant, any/all inputs are welcome and appreciated!

Interested in getting a sense of how people approach this in practice. Every time I look at images of a well-differentiated liposarc (eg in Practical Surgical Pathology, Enzinger and Weiss, the WHO Classification, etc), the atypia seems quite subtle to me, and if I go hunting for that level of atypia in a lipoma, I almost always find nuclei that approach it. Getting an MDM2 FISH on every block of every case might solve the dilemma, but doesn't seem particularly cost effective. Does anyone have any practical tips for actually making the distinction? I have yet to come across someone who is able to articulate it (or to point me to good examples), but I'm hoping throwing this out to the vastness of the Internet will yield some insights.

non US IMG here.

Why internalists are more involved in basic science research than pathologists? like when I view labs in research heavy cancer centers for example, most of the PIs are internalists, the rest are neurologists, pediatricians and few pathologists. I've always thought that pathologists are the ones who are more capable of generating basic science new data since their training and studying is much more basic science heavy compared with other specialties.

For benign/negative cases, such as a benign cervical biopsy, gastric sleeve, colon removed incidental to procedure, etc. I see some attendings writing the cases in a way that is technically incorrect. For example:

CERVIX (BIOPSY):

• Benign squamous epithelium

• Negative for dysplasia or malignancy

COLON (EXCISION):

• Benign colonic epithelium

• Negative for malignancy

I know it's pedantic, but much more than just epithelium is present on the slide. It's often a full-thickness resection and all we comment on is epithelium?

Wondering how you prefer to write up these cases?

Thanks!

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