A pathologist is a physician who
examines tissues, checks the accuracy
of lab tests, and interprets the results
in order to facilitate the patient’s
diagnosis and treatment. He or she
works closely with the patient’s other
doctors and is a vital member of the
patient’s primary health care team.
Pathologists work in many areas of
the medical laboratory and often
serve as the Lab Director. Contrary to
popular depictions of this career, the
task of performing autopsies
constitutes just a small part of the
typical pathologist’s practice.
A clinical pathologist oversees lab
tests conducted on body fluids. For
instance, together with clinical lab
technologists, pathologists work to
ensure that blood and blood products
are safe. In microbiology, pathologists
identify microorganisms that can
cause infections – bacteria, viruses,
fungi, and parasites – so that the
most effective treatment can be
selected for each particular case.
An anatomic pathologist assists
surgeons during operations by
providing immediate diagnoses on
biopsies (specially treated tissues
removed in surgery and rushed to the
lab).
A forensic pathologist uses lab
science to answer questions about
evidence collected for criminal and
civil cases. Other pathologists conduct
research in pathology, developing
new tests and new instruments to
better diagnose diseases.
Some pathologists devote their
careers to research in pathology,
developing new tests and new
instruments to better diagnose
diseases. Pathologists often teach
their specialty to medical students and
those preparing for other laboratory
professions, including clinical lab
technology and cytotechnology,
among others.
Pathologists are problem-solvers,
fascinated by the process of disease
and eager to unlock medical
mysteries, such as AIDS and diabetes,
using the sophisticated tools and
methods of modern laboratory
science. With today’s rapid advances
in biomedical science, over 2,000
laboratory tests on blood and body
fluids are available – many of which
require a pathologist’s expert
interpretation.

explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/121/Pathologist

hello, having problems in interpretation of your laboratory tests,i am here to help. what you need to do is to give details of symptoms and signs as well as laboratory findings.

Welcome to The Royal College of
Pathologists' website.
Pathology is the science at the heart
of modern medicine and our
members are vital to the diagnosis
and clinical management of disease.
Pathologists explain why and how
people fall ill and reveal the targets for
their treatment. We define, with lab
tests, the success or failure of both
the progress and the final outcome of
that treatment.
The College aims to advance the
science and practice of pathology, to
provide public education, to promote
research in pathology and to
disseminate the results.
The College is a professional
membership organisation committed
to setting and maintaining
professional standards and to
promoting excellence in the teaching
and practice of pathology. It is a
registered charity and is not a trade
union. We have over 10,000 members
working in hospital laboratories,
universities and industry worldwide.
We are the only medical college that
includes scientists as equal and full
members.

About ASSOPON
The Association of Pathologists of
Nigeria (ASSOPON) is an umbrella
body of all Pathologists in Nigeria. Her
members comprise Fellows of the
Faculty of Pathology, National
Postgraduate Medical College of
Nigeria (NPMCN) and the Faculty of
Laboratory Medicine, West African
College of Physician (WACP).
Pathology specialists trained abroad,
whose qualifications are registerable
with the Medical and Dental Council of
Nigeria (MDCN) and appointable as
Consultants, and have been so
appointed, are also welcome as full
members. Resident doctors in
Pathology are admitted as Associate
Members.
Members cut across the four major
specialists of Pathology namely,
Anatomic Pathology, Chemical
Pathology, Haematology and Blood
Transfusion and Medical Microbiology
and Parasitology.
Vision:
To provide very reliable Laboratory
diagnostic platform for all diseases
and their management in quality
managed clinical laboratories in
compliance with ISO 15189:2007
standards and as may be amended.
Mission:
1. To ensure that all clinical
laboratories are effectively and
efficiently managed in compliance with
quality management systems.
2. To provide accurate, reliable and
reproducible results and reports from
our clinical laboratories.
3. To provide necessary consultancy to
patient care and disease control
based on sound knowledge of disease
aetiology, pathogenesis and clinical
and laboratory diagnostic features.
4. To provide public awareness by
relevant diseases
5. To keep our medical practice at the
cutting edge of medical advances
through basic, operational and
translational research.
6. To provide excellent basic clinical
science knowledge and skills to
medical undergraduate through
effective teaching.
7. To promote, advance and protect
the teaching and practice of pathology
in compliance with ethical codes of
conduct, extant rules and regulations
and relevant statutory provisions.
8. To collaborate with relevant
stakeholders in Medicine in general
and Laboratory Medicine in particular
within and outside Nigeria to advance
the cause of Pathology.

www.assopon.org/about

AAP
A national shortage of pathologists is
causing delays in the diagnosis of
some cancers, leading medical experts
say.
There are 1100 pathologists in
Australia but the Royal College of
Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) says
200 more are needed to ensure
consistent, timely diagnosis of disease.
"You can only work within safety
limits. If you push it, that undermines
quality and safety," RCPA president
Professor Yee Khong told AAP.
"Most pathologists will say `I can't do
any more today' and there may well
be a delay which can impact
treatment.
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"Some of them (the delays) can be
critical, others where you're
diagnosing just a day or two later, it
doesn't make too much difference."
The college has launched a new social
media campaign, including two
humorous videos, to highlight the
issue.
Australian Medical Association
president Dr Steve Hambleton said he
was a little sceptical about whether
the campaign would work.
He agreed there was a shortage of
pathologists and that shortage could
cause delays.
"Pathologists will instantly tell you yes
it is cancer or no it's not," he told AAP.
"You need someone who is highly
trained who can make that call on the
spot ... so if a pathologist is delayed
you might not be able to get surgery
on the day."
The RCPA's social media videos invite
viewers to imagine a world without
pathologists.
One, called Tickleoscopy, shows a
hapless doctor trying to diagnose
illness with a feather and a
harmonica.
The second, called Emutopsy, shows a
doctor attempting diagnosis using an
emu egg and cymbals.
Prof Khong said the RCPA took a
humorous approach because
previous serious campaigns hadn't
always worked.
The RCPA says it's unclear precisely
why the pathologist shortage has
occurred.
Prof Khong says one reason may be
that the profession does not receive
much exposure and students are
drawn to more glamorous areas of
medicine.
Federal Health Minister Tanya
Plibersek and NSW Health Minister
Jillian Skinner have been asked for
comment.

news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/pathologist-shortage-causes-cancer-delays-20121129-2ahtc.html