# Physicians, Pathologists

> Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

- Code: 29-1222.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 29-1222)
- Family: [Healthcare Practitioners](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-29), one of its 96 occupations
- Tasks: 19 tasks (14 core and 5 supplemental)
- Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/29-1222.00
- JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/29-1222.00.json

## What the work is made of

1. Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.  
   Core task · Task 17194 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
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 task · Task 17195 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
3. Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.  
   Core task · Task 17190 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
4. Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.  
   Core task · Task 17192 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
5. Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.  
   Core task · Task 17187 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
6. Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.  
   Core task · Task 17180 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
7. Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.  
   Core task · Task 17193 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
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 task · Task 17191 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
9. Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.  
   Core task · Task 17178 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
10. Manage medical laboratories.  
   Core task · Task 17179 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2020
11. Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.  
   Core task · Task 17181 · Rated by 78 people who do the job, August 2020
12. Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.  
   Core task · Task 17182 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
13. Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.  
   Core task · Task 17185 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
14. Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.  
   Core task · Task 17184 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
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 task · Task 17188 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
16. Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.  
   Supplemental task · Task 17186 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
17. Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.  
   Supplemental task · Task 17189 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
18. Conduct research and present scientific findings.  
   Supplemental task · Task 17183 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020
19. Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.  
   Supplemental task · Task 17177 · Rated by 80 people who do the job, August 2020

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## Where this comes from

Quoted from O*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0: free to copy and reuse, with credit. Nothing on this page is written by the Org.AI Foundation.
