PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Pathologists’ Assistant program is a 24-month continuous, intensive curriculum leading to a Master of Science degree in Pathology. Graduates look forward to employment in a variety of health care settings, including community hospitals, teaching hospitals, and private laboratories.  The demand for qualified pathologists' assistants remains strong throughout the country, with starting salaries ranging from $60,000 to as high as $90,000.

The program is a specialized graduate program in the Department of Pathology.  Year I (pre-clinical) begins with the summer months observing in the surgical pathology gross room and followed by didactic courses where a foundation of anatomy, histology, physiology, and pathology is built.  Year II (clinical) is a practical training experience with the student, under supervision of attending pathologists, performing autopsies and surgical specimen dissection and description in a manner similar to junior residents in pathology.   Students are expected to learn, develop, and master the techniques of anatomic pathology during this portion of the program. Externships at the Franklin County Coroner's Office and Children's Hospital are included to provide exposure to forensic pathology, toxicology and pediatric pathology.  Other topics covered include laboratory administration/management, medical ethics, clinical information systems, clinical pathology, and gross/microscopic photography techniques.