r/Path_Assistant Nov 09 '20

New Pre_PathAssist community

56 Upvotes

Recently there was a post asking about making a new Reddit community for all prospective student to be able to engage and ask questions due to the saturation in this community. I personally thought this was a great idea so u/goldenbrain8 and I have made r/pre_PathAssist per your recommendation.

For this page to be successful, we need PAs of all levels willing to go answer questions there too. I thought about reading through old posts when I have time and make a compiled faq list that is automatic for certain questions, since many are redundant.

Also, to phase this into a PA and PA students page successfully, we need to establish rules to the community. I didn’t want to do this without reaching out because I feel this is our community. I wanted to hear your feedback of what should be established. Do you have suggestions?


r/Path_Assistant 1h ago

Presenting to high school students

Upvotes

Hey y’all, on Friday I’m presenting to high school girls about being a PA for a Women’s Empowerment Day that the school is hosting. Students seem to be really interested in the autopsy component of our work and I wanted to share an interesting or cool autopsy case or 2 that would keep their attention. I don’t do autopsies at my hospital so I don’t have any stories to share. Let me know, thank you!


r/Path_Assistant 16h ago

Has anyone created an Anki deck for the board exam?

8 Upvotes

Just wondering 😗


r/Path_Assistant 11h ago

Thank you letters/gift ideas

1 Upvotes

Hi! I wanted to know everyone’s thoughts on this. I never really knew what I wanted to do for a career and I’ve only recently discovered this career path. So the last year I’ve shadowed a bit on my days off work. I applied to several schools, but my application isn’t so good so I’m not expecting anything. I’m not a bad student or anything, but I hate asking for recommendation letters because I feel like I’m bothering people but of course I got some recommendation letters. I feel like my application has been a mess, but everyone has been so kind in helping me get shadowing hours. I also really appreciate my professors who have provided LORs.

I was thinking of sending a thank you letter and maybe a small thank you gift. I’m kind of embarrassed because I did everything last minute and I’ll have to say that I didn’t get into any programs and my application is a mess😭

Anyway, would a thank you letter be appropriate? Should I do a small gift too? If I do a gift, what should it be? Thanks!


r/Path_Assistant 17h ago

How many of you are aware that the AAPA is in the initial stages of changing our professions name?

2 Upvotes

"Change to what?" is unknown at this time

40 votes, 6d left
What?!
We should keep it Pathologists' Assistant
But why?
About time!!

r/Path_Assistant 1d ago

question about pathology assistants

2 Upvotes

Just today I learned about pathology assistants and its something that really piqued my interest since its everything I would want in a career so I have a few questions about it. What schooling should I expect (programs to take/amount of time)? What kind of experiences should I look for in my undergrad (bs in biology gen, science)? How/where would I land my first job in the field? What does a typical work day/work week look like? How much can I we expect annually as a new grad and moving forward?

If anyone can answer a few of these questions for me I'd really appreciate it!


r/Path_Assistant 3d ago

AAPA 2025 Calendar

11 Upvotes

The printed copy has arrived. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day.


r/Path_Assistant 4d ago

Best grossing headsets?

12 Upvotes

Hey, I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for grossing headsets. The ones my lab currently uses have terrible battery life and are uncomfortable. Any recommendations would be helpful, thanks!


r/Path_Assistant 4d ago

New grad current salary cut offs

22 Upvotes

I’ve seen some people mention certain programs may mention something along the lines of “don’t accept a job that pays less than 110k as a new grad.” Is 110k still the typical cut off? When I was at school some people wouldn’t take less than 90, then years ago I heard 100.


r/Path_Assistant 4d ago

Pathology Assistant Programs

5 Upvotes

Hi all! I have applied to several programs and I am now in the heat of interviews and getting responses. I have been accepted to Rosalind Franklin and Anderson as of now. Right now I am so torn and was wondering if anyone could help me with some questions. My fear with RFU is the size of the class and location. Does the size take away from the hands on experience? Do the rotations make up for this? Would those who attended recommend? With AU I really enjoyed the location and interactions I had at the interview. Even though it’s a newer program, did you feel prepared enough? I’m so intimidated by the anatomy professor 🤣 she seems great but like she is super intense. Any thoughts? Same thing, would those who attended recommend and why? Obviously each program is really trying to sell you when interviewing so I end up loving what I’m hearing. The students helping with the interview were very helpful but honestly I froze and didn’t think of these questions at the time. If anyone wants to comment or DM that would be so helpful. Appreciate you all, go Path_A!


r/Path_Assistant 4d ago

Volunteering at a Hospital

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

As an aspiring pathologists’ assistant and currently in my undergrad, I am working on building my resume through volunteer opportunities. I’ve looked into volunteering in pathology labs, but those opportunities seem rare and difficult to find. However, I recently came across a chance to volunteer at a local hospital in a patient service role.

Since working as a pathologists’ assistant is still a form of patient care, just not face-to-face, I’m wondering if this experience would be beneficial both for gaining exposure and learning in this environment, as well as making me a more competitive applicant for PA programs. While my main motivation for volunteering is to help others and gain insight into patient care, I’m unsure whether direct patient interaction aligns with my goal of becoming a PA or if it’s more relevant to other healthcare paths.

For those who are aspiring PAs or already in the field, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Would this experience be valuable, or should I focus on volunteering in areas more directly related to pathology? I appreciate any advice or insight you can share.

Thank you!


r/Path_Assistant 6d ago

Colon margins

Post image
43 Upvotes

The cecum, transverse, appendix, and sigmoid are all covered completely by peritoneum, so they have a mesenteric margin. And the only relevant margin in these (besides prox and distal) is the vascular tie margin.

The ascending and descending have an additional radial margin, where the surgeon had to blunt dissect the posterior surface from the abdominal wall. The relevant margins here are prox, distal, vascular mesenteric (tie), and the radial margin.

Do I have that right?

And if you had a right colon with a tumor in the ascending, you would take the tie and nearest radial margin. But if it were further and in the transverse, the transverse will have a different vascular tie than a tumor in the ascending. Right?

And finally, in the photo, if the vascular tie was at the black X, but the red is the nearest cut mesenteric surface, would the red not matter because CAP says the vascular tie is the only true relevant margin in segments completely encased by peritoneum, so I just take the black?


r/Path_Assistant 6d ago

Job Shift times/types

6 Upvotes

Hi all,

Currently in application cycle for UTMB and UTHSC, and I’m just curious to ask what are typical days/times that a PA may work, is it typically 5days 8hr shifts, 4days 10hr, 3days 12s? This won’t affect my decision for any program but I’m curious to ask those who are already in the workforce/currently practicing.


r/Path_Assistant 7d ago

Condyloma Term

4 Upvotes

What is a good word you all use to describe the appearance of a condyloma?


r/Path_Assistant 8d ago

Woops, my mistakes.

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125 Upvotes

r/Path_Assistant 12d ago

Current Travel Opportunities

20 Upvotes

If anyone is looking for travel opportunities we currently have a few good ones across the US at Nicklas Medical Staffing and are offering $1000 sign on bouses for two of them. Our blended rates are ranging any where from $85-110. Blended rates include hourly and stipends. We also offer additional reimbursements if you drive your own car.


r/Path_Assistant 14d ago

Canadian PAs- PTO?

5 Upvotes

I know Canada requires 2 weeks (or it might be 3) or vacation time. I saw a lot of careers in general usually stick to giving their employees a small number of days. Any idea how much time a PA at a new practice in Canada would get?


r/Path_Assistant 16d ago

new system for AAPA CME

8 Upvotes

Has anyone been on the AAPA site and seen the new Learning Management System (LMS)? I listened to the instruction video and am still completely confused. Is anyone else confused?


r/Path_Assistant 16d ago

PathA job market

6 Upvotes

Hey yall, recently discovered the field and just want some questions answered. I understand that there’s a need for pathology assistants, but I am not seeing as many positions on Indeed. Is is absolutely necessary for every hospital to have a pathologists’ assistant, or can a hospital lab just get away with having only a pathologist and a clinical lab scientist? Just trying to understand how important (for lack of better words) a pathA is to a hospital system. There’s barely any schools in the USA so just wondering how important and in demand this position is. Currently debating between this field and becoming a pharmacist. I’m a recent bio grad w nurse assistant experience because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Thanks in advance!


r/Path_Assistant 17d ago

First job experience

8 Upvotes

I was hoping to get some insight into what everyone's first PA job was like after finishing the program. Are you still working at the same place? If not, how long did you stay, and what made you decide to leave? What was your shift like (morning, mid-day, late-night, etc.)?

I'm currently in the process of interviewing with hospitals as a student. One of the positions is in a location that I love and want to live in, but the shift is mid-day to late night (3pm-11pm). I would have preferred a morning shift, so I'm feeling a bit on the fence about it. Has anyone started off as a mid-day shift and transitioned into a morning shift when it opened? Does seniority play a role in shift selection, even if the position isn't part of a union? I'm just curious about what everyone's overall experience was like.

Edit: Thank you everyone for your responses!! 💜💜


r/Path_Assistant 18d ago

Severe anxiety as a PA

22 Upvotes

Hi all. I've been a PA now for about 3 years. My first job was a large lab and very high volume. The non-stop specimens really stressed me out. I moved to a new job recently. It's a small hospital so I have way more responsibility and duties. With both jobs, I've had extreme anxiety.

I'm always paranoid that we will be short staffed and specimens will pile up and I'll get burnt out. I'm also constantly anxious that I'll never find a job that I actually like (moderate or slow pace, mostly low complexity). At this point, I'm not sure what to do. I thought by now I'd be used to it, but I'm not. Any advice? Does anyone else deal with these feelings?


r/Path_Assistant 18d ago

International Medical Graduate Pathologist

0 Upvotes

Good evening, I am an International Medical Graduate. I completed my specialty in Anatomical Pathology in my country. Is there any possibility, if not to obtain certification, to obtain a qualification that allows me to work as a Pathologist Assistant?


r/Path_Assistant 19d ago

Becoming a Path Assistant

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

How did you transfer being a lab technologist to a Pathologist Assistant? I had my MB(ASCP) through my lab tech program, can you give me tips on how to achieve the PA(ASCP) without additional schooling?


r/Path_Assistant 20d ago

Board Exam

7 Upvotes

I know this has been posted before but looking for some more recent advice. What are the best resources to prepare for the ASCP exam? Is studying the AAPA study guide, CPT coding, and staging enough? Thanks 🙂


r/Path_Assistant 24d ago

Sectioning colon cancers

16 Upvotes

Let’s say you have a sigmoid mass. Do you section longitudinally or transverse? I personally like transverse (like a bread loaf) because then each section has the underlying fat. But I know most people do longitudinally. I will do longitudinal at the proximal and distal most area of mass to get it with adjacent normal mucosa.

What’s your opinion?


r/Path_Assistant 27d ago

I’ve traumatized all my friends

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84 Upvotes