Summary: A Career As A Pathologist Assistant

Gone are the days of small, simple medical laboratories. Located just behind the scenes of direct patient care, there are countless healthcare professionals working around the clock in order to provide patients and clinicians with critical diagnostic and prognostic information. Found in the dungeons of the hospital, there are a variety of specialties comprising laboratory medical sciences: Chemistry, Blood Bank, Cytology, Microbiology, and Surgical Pathology. These are just a few of the departments that are growing rapidly due to the demand of the population and evolving overnight with developments in technology. With all of the advancements ranging from microscopic stains to complex equipment, these fields need leaders that not only are familiar with the intricacies of laboratory medicine, but leaders who are well versed in running the

I am certainly privileged to work with and learn from these prominent leaders in healthcare. As a board certified Pathologist Assistant, my new office is in the Surgical Pathology laboratory. It is here that I encounter many different disease processes and provide prognostic information to clinicians. While I never will meet any of the impacted patients, I will literally hold a life-changing moment for them in my hands. Pathologist Assistants are some of the most highly trained health professionals in laboratory medicine. With higher levels of education comes greater responsibility; thus, Pathologist Assistants are viewed as leaders in laboratory medicine, but are employed to oversee the daily running of the now global laboratory with locations in the Middle East, Canada, and soon Europe. The Clinic is becoming a more global institution raising questions ranging from cost effectiveness to cultural understanding. I know some about laboratory management, but this approach does not nearly cover the new global approach. I am never