Additional Information
Realistically, before you can set your sights on hematological pathology
you need to concentrate on getting into medical school. In high school, biology,
physics, and mathematics will help you prepare for university.
In the United States, it can take as many as 16 years to become a hematological
pathologist. Four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school,
and up to eight years in residency -- for regular physicians their residency
is three years.
Acceptance to medical school is very competitive. Applicants must submit
transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and letters
of recommendation. Most schools also require an interview with an admissions
officer. Schools consider character, personality, leadership qualities and
participation in extracurricular activities.
All states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories license physicians.
Hematological pathologists must also seek a board certification by the American
Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) after residency. To teach or do research,
you'll need a master's or PhD in such fields as biochemistry or microbiology.
You may also spend a year or more in research or in an advanced clinical training
fellowship.
All that training isn't cheap -- 80 percent of U.S. medical students need
student loans to complete their training. It's a long road, but Dr. Lois Shepherd
says if you know that it's what you want to do, it's a very rewarding career
in spite of the time and expense of training.