National Pathology Week is sponsored by
Frequently Asked Questions
Pathology is the study of disease. Over 70% of diagnoses in the NHS involve pathology, so it really is a central part of health care, both in hospitals and in your GP’s surgery.
Pathology is not just a single specialty, it is made up of at least 14 different specialties, including histopathology, medical microbiology, clinical chemistry, virology, medical genetics, clinical embryology, haematology and toxicology. To find out what each of these specialties involves, see the glossary.
The second National Pathology Week will be held November 2nd – 8th 2009.
The Royal College of Pathologists, a charity whose aim is to promote the practice of pathology and maintain standards, with other associated societies, has developed the week to promote pathology to increase understanding of the specialty and the vital role it plays in modern health care.
Research has shown that many members of the public, and even the medical profession, do not know much about pathology. There is a widely held misconception that pathology is only about dead bodies and that television programmes such as Silent Witness accurately reflect what pathologists do. This could not be further from the truth, and National Pathology Week is one way in which pathologists hope to inform people about the reality of their jobs and the ways in which they work to benefit the living, not just the dead.
To learn more about the truth behind some of the common misconceptions about pathology, find out about some pathology myths here.
Pathology professionals around the country have organised events to promote pathology, many of which are open to the public. These include school visits, laboratory open days, displays in shopping centres and public libraries and talks by pathologists to interested groups.
This year’s theme is Pathology; the heart of modern healthcare. Pathologists may choose to base their events on the role of the specialty in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all types of heart disease.
How do I find out what’s happening in my area during National Pathology Week?
Some events are open to anyone who turns up on the day, others have limited capacity so it’s best to book a place. There are details of how to do this in the programme.
Do I have to pay to attend?
No, there is no charge to attend any of the events during National Pathology Week.
Are the events suitable for children?
Some events are suitable for children, but others are not, because of the facilities available or the content of the event. We have tried to make the events as inclusive as possible but laboratory visits and educational talks are unlikely to appeal to young children.
I’m interested in a career in pathology. What qualifications do I need?
There are several options for a career in pathology. You can work as a pathologist (a doctor who specialises in one of the areas of pathology), a scientist or a laboratory assistant. The different careers require different qualifications – see below for more information.
To work as a pathologist in any of the pathology specialties you need to qualify as a doctor first before going into pathology training.
Clinical scientists work alongside pathologists and provide scientific leadership in laboratories. Clinical Scientists can work at consultant level, running laboratories in specialties such as virology and clinical chemistry.
Biomedical scientists provide and develop technical aspects of the pathology laboratory and can go on to senior management positions.
I want to be a pathologist. What qualifications do I need?
Pathologists are doctors who specialise in one of the pathology specialties after completing their basic medical training at medical school and as a junior hospital doctor. Many pathologists choose to complete further training in non-pathology specialties before entering pathology.
So to become a pathologist you need to go to medical school for 5 or 6 years first. You will need good A level results to get into medical school, your school careers advisor or the medical school you are interested in will be able to tell you what grades you are likely to need and which subjects you need to take. Most students take a combination of maths, chemistry, physics and biology and obtain A grades.
How long does it take to train to be a pathologist?
Once you have qualified from medical school, all doctors complete two years of foundation training, in which you learn more about looking after patients who come into hospital. Many also have the opportunity to work in general practice.
After completing all the foundation year assessments to show that you have the necessary skills, you can apply for a specialist training scheme in the discipline of your choice.
After you’ve got a place on a training scheme, it takes approximately 5 years to train to be a pathologist. Some people take longer, choosing to do research during their training. So over all it takes at least 12 years to qualify as a pathologist after leaving school.
I want to be a clinical scientist. What qualifications do I need?
Clinical scientists take a degree in a subject such as biochemistry and often go on to do a PhD. You usually then undertake a three-year paid programme of basic training, followed by four to five years of specialist training. So it takes at least 10 years to become a fully-fledged clinical scientist, and often longer than that.
I want to be a biomedical scientist. What qualifications do I need?
Biomedical scientists usually enter pathology training after their first degree. Training takes up to two years after that. An alternative route into the profession is to begin training after A levels and study for a degree on a day-release basis. This takes a bit longer but gives trainees an opportunity to learn on the job – and to earn some money while they’re studying.
I want to work in a pathology laboratory as a laboratory assistant. What qualifications do I need?
What does the Royal College of Pathologists do?
The Royal College of Pathologists is a charitable organisation whose main aim is to promote excellence in all areas of pathology for the benefit of patients. The College does this by:
- Setting standards for pathologists so that you can be sure that the pathology provided in your area is of the highest quality
- Educating the public about the importance of pathology so that patients understand any tests they have and what the results mean
- Promoting research in pathology and sharing the results to improve patient care in the future.
The headquarters of the College is at 2 Carlton House Terrace in London, but the College is more than just a handsome building in the capital. The College is really its members, as they are the people who work with patients every day to provide the best health care available.
The College has approximately 8000 members, 20% of whom are non-medically trained scientists. 25% of members are based overseas. There are also many trainee members.
The largest specialties are histopathology (22% of members) and haematology (21%). The other large specialties include medical microbiology (14%), clinical biochemistry (13%) and cytopathology (9%). The smaller, but no less important, specialties include clinical cytogenetics (3%), immunology (3%), virology (2%) and molecular genetics (2%). In total there are up to 18 different specialties within the College, with new ones emerging every year.