r/pathology

As the title suggests, I’d like your input on the difference between choosing one program versus the other. Both are mid-tier, medium-volume programs.

The selective surgical pathology path is more flexible- you can either pursue a full surgical pathology fellowship or narrow your focus to GI alone, and it’s also in a geographically favorable area. That said, it comes with less teaching and fewer GI attendings.

Please help.

Good article for salary negotiation for jobs. Don’t get exploited or get lowballed by greedy pathologists boys and girls!

I’m a USMD and pretty set on pursuing pathology. I’m trying to think about the long game and how to position myself for the best job opportunities after training.

For those already in the field, if you were in my shoes knowing what you know now, what would you prioritize?

Would you:

Try to match at the highest-ranked/most prestigious residency possible?

Prioritize doing residency in the geographic area where you ultimately want to practice?

Do anything else during residency to maximize job opportunities and earning potential?

I’m flexible right now in terms of geography and fellowship choice. Curious what practicing pathologists and current residents would do differently if they were starting over today.

Very small sample size but like 8 out of 10 pathologists I meet are social bunnies and u have to slowly walk away to get them to stop talking 😂😂 I consider myself introverted but im pretty personable. I just love path because u can dictate how social u want to be everyday.

I don’t think this is discussed much here but… for being the medical director of a CLIA lab of small hospitals, how much is compensation per month typically?

I basically go in to sign forms, make visits, attend meetings. I am the director of small hospitals (less than 20 beds).

I think this discussion would help future pathologists negotiate fair compensation for being a medical director of a lab so that we don’t get lowballed by hospital admin (if hospital employed) or by private groups for doing work we are liable for.

Thanks!

I'm a PGY-2 in a Canadian pathology program. I know it is a 5-year residency because there's a lot to learn, and I didn't expect to know everything walking in. But lately every day feels humiliating. My reports always need corrections from staff. Despite studying, there's always another stain I don't know. I get quizzed on organ systems and specimen types I haven't rotated through or ever seen before, and it feels like I'm supposed to already know it.

PGY-1 felt like it came with more grace for not knowing things. Now I just feel less competent by the day, like it's never going to click. I come from a non-traditional background. I didn't do a lot of biology in my undergrad. My undergrad and graduate program material came so much more naturally than this does, and I can't tell if that means I'm not cut out for this or if this is just what year 2 feels like for everyone.

Some days I get things right and it feels great, but then a harder case comes along, or I miss something like LVI on a colon cancer, and I feel like I'm back to square one. Does that unevenness smooth out with time, or is it just part of the job forever?

Lately I've been genuinely wondering if I just don't have the intelligence for this, like maybe there's a ceiling and I'm hitting it already.

Does this get better? Does the feeling of inadequacy actually fade, or does it just change shape? Would appreciate hearing from anyone further along. Apologies if this has been asked before, I did try to search but wanted to share my specific situation.

I’m planning on joining a hospital system in WV and I’m worried about the amount of diversity in the area as a WOC.

I know about the stereotypes of the state but also know it’s a beautiful area with nice people in it. If you could talk about how the state is to work as a physician and what are some of the great things about it?

Just wondering if anyone likes or uses the 20x objective for any reason.

I usually do 4x,10x,40x,100x

I imagine, it might be useful for scanning for a particular cell when I don't know what to look for. 40x could take too long. 10x isn't good for individual cells.

For those of you who are pathologists, I’m just curious... If pathology wasn’t an option for you, what specialty do you think you’d have gone into instead? And if you were to leave medicine altogether and do something different, what would it be?

Why is there not a single pathologist on Reddit willing to admit they work at HCA?

Hi everyone, I am here to vent and to get useful advice. I’m about one month into residency and honestly I don’t feel very satisfied with my training so far, but I’m not sure if I’m judging things too early.
The program is overall benign and most people are nice, but I don’t feel like I’m getting enough teaching or support. During grossing, I mostly rely on the PAs, and honestly sometimes I feel embarrassed of asking the PA so many questions, and if I ask the senior residents on how to approach a specimen, they would answer verbally but never come to the gross room to actually show me things on the specimen. We have a grossing manual, but it’s basically just written steps with no pictures, and every attending seems to have a different approach, so I am feeling lost in the grossing and I have to watch youtube videos or read on my own. I expected more structured approach that everyone should follow.

I’m also worried about the surgical pathology volume. Some days I only have around 5 cases to preview, and the amount of teaching at sign-out really depends on the attendings, my program is small and most attendings are young and even the old ones, I don’t feel they are strong enough, they basically don’t teach you how to approach the case, what to look at. Overall, I just don’t feel like I’m learning as much as I expected to.
I came into residency really excited to learn, so this has been disappointing. Is one month way too early to judge a program? Should I give it more time, or are these reasonable concerns? I have been thinking a lot about transferring to another program, but I don’t know how to do that, I don’t want to re apply for the match, but I wonder if I should just reach out to programs or keep an open eye if there is an empty Pgy1 position

Anybody have a specimen hit near their mouth? I got appendix juice on my lip yesterday 🫠🫠

Hey guys I’m a pathologist aiming for Non acgme , Non standard training fellowships which take candidates with a Non US residency. I am open to Haempath or AP Fellowships,

I am unable to get a list of institutions, could you guys please help me with listings ???
Warm Regards

Had a talk with a doctor friend the other day and he said he wouldn’t recommend his kids to go into medicine because it’s such a “long road” and it “isn’t what it used to be” and he “wasn’t sure if it’s worth it”.

Would you recommend your kids to go into medicine? If so, would you recommend them to do pathology? If not pathology, what field would you recommend to them?

If not medicine, what field would you recommend to your kids?

Kids nowadays want to be YouTubers and influencers he said lol.

Hi! I am applying path this year (in about a month!!). I am planning on signaling UVA, Duke, Cleveland Clinic, and my home program. I am looking for a program that will work you hard but also treat you like a human/ has a good culture. From what I've seen on here it seems like UVA, Duke, Cleveland, and Stanford will give you great training without really abusing you, but I am from the east coast and don't have any interest in going to California (so I still have another spot open for a signal). I am wondering if there are any other east coast programs that people really like? It's hard to get a sense about culture just from the website, so I thought I would ask people who have actually interviewed/ been in these programs.

For context because I think signals are new: we get 5 "signals" to send to programs that we really like to increase chances of an interview.

Also- I am US-MD, pretty average step 2 score, but lots of path experience (rotations in third and fourth year, research, and path related gap year job) and top 25% of my class, so I think I am a pretty competitive applicant?

Any advice is appreciated!