Description of the Profession

The Pathologists' Assistant is an allied health professional, similar in concept to the physicians' assistant.  Pathologists' Assistants work in anatomic pathology laboratories in hospitals and private settings.   They assist the anatomic pathologist in the performance of gross description and dissection of tissue specimens removed during surgical procedures.  Pathologists' Assistants make and record measurements, gross features, and type and extent of disease.  They then dissect the specimen and select portions to be examined microscopically by the pathologist.  Pathologists' Assistants thereby increase the efficiency of the surgical pathology service by allowing the pathologist to concentrate on diagnosis.  In autopsy pathology, Pathologists' Assistants perform complete post-mortem examinations under the supervision of a pathologist.  They perform the external examination, evisceration and dissection of the body, followed by recording of measurements, weights, and other findings, culminating in the dictation of a gross description.   Pathologists' Assistants work with the pathologist to create lists of pathologic findings and correlate the findings with the clinical history.  Finally they select material for microscopic examination by the pathologist.

Other important functions of the Pathologists' Assistant include gross and microscopic specimen photography and, increasingly, computerized image processing and manipulation.   Pathologists' Assistants often take a leadership role in surgical and autopsy laboratory management, and are often indispensable as instructors of anatomic pathology techniques. 

Characteristics of Pathologists' Assistants

Pathologists' Assistants are, by training and temperament, professionals within the health care environment.  They must possess integrity, intelligence, and be able to apply a large body of medical and scientific knowledge to continually varying situations.   They must be able to recognize their unique role in medical care, and be constantly aware of the limitations imposed on the profession.

Minimum Competencies

Students who successfully complete the program will be able to perform the following tasks (note that this is not an exhaustive list of the abilities of program graduates or of the profession as a whole):

1.  Understand and consistently work within the established limitations of
      the profession.

2.  Understand and consistently respect patient confidentiality.

3.  Understand and be able to consistently employ all required safety  
     devices and procedures.

4.  Be able to describe, dissect, and section all common surgical
     specimens for diagnosis by a pathologist.

5.  Be able to assemble and summarize pertinent clinical information for
     the pathologist.

6.  Be able to cut and stain frozen sections from tissue selected by the
     pathologist.

7.  Be able to properly evaluate permissions for post-mortem examination.

8.  Be able to recognize and properly triage forensic cases.

9.  Be able to perform a complete human post-mortem examination on
     adult and pediatric patients, including external examination,
     evisceration, dissection, removal of the brain, sectioning for histology,
     and restoration of the body.  Be able to perform special procedures
     such as collection of material for cultures, toxicology, and cytogenetics.

10. Be able to write a preliminary autopsy diagnosis, including
      clinicopathologic correlation, under the direction of a pathologist.

11. Be able to assemble all components of an autopsy case for final
       review by a pathologist.

12. Be able to record gross and microscopic images on film and by using
      computer image capture equipment.

13. Be able to demonstrate and apply a comprehensive knowledge of
      anatomy, histology, and basic pathology.