Pathology is the study of the nature of diseased, their causes, development, and consequences and involves laboratory tests of molecules, cells, tissues and organs, and their analysis. With the boom in population all over the world, healthcare needs are at an all time high. This has led to an unprecedented rise in the demand for pathologists. More so, with the high recurrence of lifestyle, chronic as well as susceptible diseases like cancer. Professionals with a degree in pathology work independently or in a team. They can also join the teaching professional at a college or university.
The progress in scientific research which has given birth to technologies likes electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology, the branch of pathology has undergone immense development. Today, biomedicine experts and pathologists are able to detect causes of a number of ailments by observing the changes in patients through blood, urine and stool tests.
Clinical pathology and anatomic pathology are the two categories of medical pathology. Clinical pathology deals with microbiology, immunology, clinical chemistry and Haematology, while Anatomic pathology deals with cellular and tissue.
Pathologists work as diagnosticians in health care institutes and hospitals, researchers in medical labs or as teachers in educational institutions. They can also explore opportunities in drug manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agriculture, public health, and law enforcement fields.
Specialists in clinical pathology work in private companies, corporate, hospitals or military and government agencies.
Pathology can also be classified into
- Neuropathology
- Hematopathology
- Cytopathology
- Renal Pathology
- Dermatopathology
Courses available –
Following certificate courses are of one-year duration –
- PDCC (Blood Banking & Immunohaematology)
- PDCC (Blood Component Therapy & Apheresis)
- PDCC (Hepatopathology)
- PDCC (Renal Pathology)
- Post MD Certificate course in Cytopathology
- Post MD Certificate course in Immunopathology
Following diploma courses are of two-year duration –
- Diploma in Clinical Pathology – 2 years
- Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pathology – 2 years
- Post Graduate Diploma in Human Genetics and Pathological Techniques (PGDHGPT) – 15 months
Following Bachelor degree course is of four-year duration-
Bachelor of Audiology Speech and Language Pathology –
Following Masters Courses are of two or three-year duration –
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Pathology – 2 years
Master of Dental Surgery in Oral Pathology – 3 years
Following doctoral courses are of three-year duration –
Doctor of Medicine in Pathology – 3 years
Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology – 3 years
Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology and Audiology – 3 years
Areas of Specialization in Pathology
- Chemical Pathology
- Neuropathology
- Forensic Pathology
- Surgical Pathology
- Medical Microbiology
- Blood Banking / Transfusion Medicine
- Hematology
- Cytopathology
- Dermatopathology
- Paediatric Pathology
- Veterinary Pathology
- Blood Banking / Transfusion Medicine
- Plant Pathology
Admission and eligibility criteria
For admission to an undergrad course one must complete 10+2 in science with PCB combination. For admission in post graduate courses one must have a bachelor’s degree in related discipline.
College admission is generally on the basis of marks obtained in plus two. Some colleges hold entrance tests for admitting students. JIPMER PG and AIIMS PG are well known Postgraduate level medical entrance exams.
Pathology courses are offered in the following institutions in India
- Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Andhra Pradesh
- Andhra Medical College, Andhra Pradesh
- Assam Medical College
- Guwahati Medical College, Assam
- Katihar Medical College, Bihar
- Government Medical College, Chandigarh
- J N M Medical College, Chattisgarh
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi
- Army Hospital Research & Referral, Delhi
- Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat
- B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Haryana
- Sher-I-Kashmir Instt. Of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir
- Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Jharkhand
- Kasturba Medical College, Karnataka
- Bangalore Medical College, Karnataka
- Medical College, Calicut, Kerala
- Shyam Shah Medical College , Madhya Pradesh
- Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College , Maharashtra
- Mahatma Gandhi Mission’s Medical College, Navi Mumbai
- Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Manipur
- MKCG Medical College, Orissa
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Pondicherry
- Government Medical College, Punjab
- Dr SN Medical College, Rajasthan
- Chennai Medical College, Tamil Nadu
- Christian Medical College, Tamil Nadu
- Uttar Pradesh Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU
- Himalaya Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttaranchal
- Dr BC Roy Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, West Bengal
- West Bengal North Bengal Medical College, West Bengal
Job roles
Medical Examiner or consultants, Medical Lab Technician, Dermato-pathologist, Forensic Technician, Mortuary Assistant and Cytotechnologist are some of the well known job positions for pathologists.
Job responsibilities
- Making a note of information from autopsies, laboratory results, and investigation reports
- Managing labs
- Interpretation of different tests
- Developing new techniques to better diagnose disease
- Taking part in conferences, seminars update skill and knowledge
Hospitals, both government and private, private medical clinics, nursing homes, and pathological labs provide attractive job opportunities like Pathologists or Supervisors or Research partners, for pathologists. One good thing about the profession is that there no emergency service involved as is the case with other medical professions; hence the stress level is less.
One can also explore avenues like appearing for Combined Medical Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, Government of India. Doctors can appear for the Provincial Civil Service Examination conducted by the respective Provincial Service Commissions.
Remuneration
Private and government hospitals pay handsomely to pathologists. Those who are new in the industry can expect a package between 10,000 to 15,000 rupees. Experienced pathologists get a monthly fee of 50,000 rupees or more. With experience, one can open his/her own pathology lab as well.