Physicians, Pathologists
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
- Tasks
- 19 tasks14 core, 5 supplemental
- Family
- Healthcare PractitionersOne of its 96 occupations
- Code
- 29-1222.00SOC 2018: 29-1222
What the work is made of
14 core tasks and 5 supplemental, each quoted as published, with the survey it came from.
Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not all
- Task 1. Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.Core taskTask 17194Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 2. Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.Core taskTask 17195Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 3. Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.Core taskTask 17190Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 4. Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.Core taskTask 17192Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 5. Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.Core taskTask 17187Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 6. Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.Core taskTask 17180Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 7. Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.Core taskTask 17193Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 8. Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).Core taskTask 17191Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 9. Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.Core taskTask 17178Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 10. Manage medical laboratories.Core taskTask 17179Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 11. Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.Core taskTask 17181Rated by 78 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 12. Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.Core taskTask 17182Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 13. Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.Core taskTask 17185Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 14. Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.Core taskTask 17184Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 15. Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.Supplemental taskTask 17188Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 16. Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.Supplemental taskTask 17186Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 17. Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.Supplemental taskTask 17189Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 18. Conduct research and present scientific findings.Supplemental taskTask 17183Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
- Task 19. Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.Supplemental taskTask 17177Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
Where this comes from
Quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor, and credited. Nothing on this page is written by us.
How we copy and credit sources- Published byO*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
- ClassificationStandard Occupational Classification 2018, 29-1222
- LicenseCC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
- Changed by usNothing.
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