Any Pathologists in Chicago or the suburbs?

[Doctor2007]

I'm a second year med student and I have a requirement to fill this semester - I need to spend 3-5 hours each of 2 days "shadowing" a doctor in the field of my choice. I am very interested in Pathology, but cannot find a Pathologist affiliated with my school who can help me. I am allowed to find an outside doctor, so if any one can help me, please pm me. I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum to put this in. Thank you!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Patholo-gyst]

I'm a second year med student and I have a requirement to fill this semester - I need to spend 3-5 hours each of 2 days "shadowing" a doctor in the field of my choice. I am very interested in Pathology, but cannot find a Pathologist affiliated with my school who can help me. QUOTE]

You could try calling the Program Director of a pathology residency program in your area and asking them to hook you up with an attending (or resident?) that enjoys teaching. You aren't asking to spend a ton of time with them, and some people really enjoy showing others what they do, especially in a field that is often misunderstood (pathology!). In Chicago there is Northwestern, Loyola, Rush, UIC, and Cook County--and that's just the city. There is bound to be someone who will give you a positive response. I'm surprised that nobody at your med school can help you. How about the people who teach pathology? If your department is friendly, you might just want to drop by and ask the people at the front desk who they think might be receptive. At my residency we have students coming in all the time, from all levels of study, from high schoolers interested in medicine to fourth year med students. If people know you are interested in what they do they will be more likely to want to help you. Eager students are much more welcome than those who don't seem interested, and since you are interested in the field you should make this known. You might have to call around a bit but you will probably be able to find someone. Good luck!

 

[Doctor2007]

I'm surprised that nobody at your med school can help you. How about the people who teach pathology? If your department is friendly, you might just want to drop by and ask the people at the front desk who they think might be receptive.

My school is very Family Med oriented and hasn't been much of a help. The department I set this up through can only give me one name, and his schedule does not fit with mine to that's a no can do. I'll take your suggestions, thanks!

 

[LADoc00]

My school is very Family Med oriented and hasn't been much of a help. The department I set this up through can only give me one name, and his schedule does not fit with mine to that's a no can do. I'll take your suggestions, thanks!

Every med school has tons of pathologists...this doesnt make sense, where do you go to school?



PS-Im now taking med students for path "shadowing" in the greater LA area. To address the inherent gender inequalities in medicine today, Im limiting these positions to young ladies, please PM me with a pic.

 

[pathdawg]

Every med school has tons of pathologists...this doesnt make sense, where do you go to school?



PS-Im now taking med students for path "shadowing" in the greater LA area. To address the inherent gender inequalities in medicine today, Im limiting these positions to young ladies, please PM me with a pic.

I love LADOC's posts: sexist, xenophobic, and bitter as hell. Very entertaining stuff.
Keep on doing your thing, dude.

 

[Doctor2007]

Every med school has tons of pathologists...this doesnt make sense, where do you go to school?

Well I go to a DO school so that might explain it, lol. We have one Pathologist associated with this program I have to fulfil but I'm unable to fit into his schedule. No one around here can give me any other names. I'm very upset by the lack of help. Some of you may ask me, why did you go to a DO school if you wanna go into Path? Well, when I entered this school I was leaning towards Family Med and it wasn't until after my first year I decided to try for Path.

BTW, since I am going to be a DO and there are no DO Path residencies, will I be at any disadvantage applying to MD ones? I assume I will have to take the USMLE (or will they accept COMLEX scores?) And how competative is it out there in general? Thanks!

 

[LADoc00]

Well I go to a DO school so that might explain it, lol. We have one Pathologist associated with this program I have to fulfil but I'm unable to fit into his schedule. No one around here can give me any other names. I'm very upset by the lack of help. Some of you may ask me, why did you go to a DO school if you wanna go into Path? Well, when I entered this school I was leaning towards Family Med and it wasn't until after my first year I decided to try for Path.

BTW, since I am going to be a DO and there are no DO Path residencies, will I be at any disadvantage applying to MD ones? I assume I will have to take the USMLE (or will they accept COMLEX scores?) And how competative is it out there in general? Thanks!

I love all pathologists regardless of whether they did their residency at Florida State or are DOs. The only thing is you have to gross in all my uteri, placentas and do all the autopsies. I feel too important to sulley my hands with these. Path WAS non-competitive, dont know now, but it used to be if you spoke reasonable english (fluency is a HUGE bonus) and were not overtly mentally handicapped you were in. Even then, exceptions were made on the second requirement (usually with ill-fated consequences). Ive seen it all: Path residents who 1.) used an English-Chinese dictionary on rotations 2.) Path residents who were goths (!) 3.) Path residents who moonlighted as coke dealers (chang ching) 4.) even a path resident who was a call girl (and that is no joke).

 

[pathdawg]

I love all pathologists regardless of whether they did their residency at Florida State or are DOs. The only thing is you have to gross in all my uteri, placentas and do all the autopsies. I feel too important to sulley my hands with these. Path WAS non-competitive, dont know now, but it used to be if you spoke reasonable english (fluency is a HUGE bonus) and were not overtly mentally handicapped you were in. Even then, exceptions were made on the second requirement (usually with ill-fated consequences). Ive seen it all: Path residents who 1.) used an English-Chinese dictionary on rotations 2.) Path residents who were goths (!) 3.) Path residents who moonlighted as coke dealers (chang ching) 4.) even a path resident who was a call girl (and that is no joke).

OK, I need to hear more about #4. I have heard about moonlighting opportunities during residency, but that might take the cake.

 

[pathdawg]

Well I go to a DO school so that might explain it, lol. We have one Pathologist associated with this program I have to fulfil but I'm unable to fit into his schedule. No one around here can give me any other names. I'm very upset by the lack of help. Some of you may ask me, why did you go to a DO school if you wanna go into Path? Well, when I entered this school I was leaning towards Family Med and it wasn't until after my first year I decided to try for Path.

BTW, since I am going to be a DO and there are no DO Path residencies, will I be at any disadvantage applying to MD ones? I assume I will have to take the USMLE (or will they accept COMLEX scores?) And how competative is it out there in general? Thanks!

They'll accept COMLEX. If you are a decent student and have no criminal record (apparently, even if you do), you'll have no problem getting a good spot. Path is pretty non-competitive, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[deschutes]

Competition is determined by the applicant pool, which varies from year to year. It also depends where you want to go. And that in turn is related to what your career goals are. If you look through some old posts you'll find interest is up this year compared to succeeding years. Trend or blip - who knows?

I'll repeat the oft-repeated statement that there are reportedly more applicants than positions in this year's match. Who knows how things will be in 2007.

I can't speak for DO's, but I did meet a few on my interview trail.

 

[LADoc00]

OK, I need to hear more about #4. I have heard about moonlighting opportunities during residency, but that might take the cake.

She had borderline personality disorder and a vile cola habit. Actually graduated from a very prestigous medical school and went for a short time to a top notch residency, sad story. Of course medicine is filled with them.

 

[Doctor2007]

They'll accept COMLEX. If you are a decent student and have no criminal record (apparently, even if you do), you'll have no problem getting a good spot. Path is pretty non-competitive, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Great! Thanks!! That takes a load of my mind

I was worried that I had to have top-notch grades and USMLE scores

I definately don't have a criminal record, not that is sounds like it's important LOL!

Thanks for the info!

 

[Doctor2007]

Competition is determined by the applicant pool, which varies from year to year. It also depends where you want to go. And that in turn is related to what your career goals are. If you look through some old posts you'll find interest is up this year compared to succeeding years. Trend or blip - who knows?

I'll repeat the oft-repeated statement that there are reportedly more applicants than positions in this year's match. Who knows how things will be in 2007.

That's interesting. Maybe because of all these new forensic shows on tv everyone wants to be like those med examinesr on CSI

 

[deschutes]

That's interesting. Maybe because of all these new forensic shows on tv everyone wants to be like those med examinesr on CSI

...which we as enlightened beings know to be completely untrue...

 

[Brian Pavlovitz]

...which we as enlightened beings know to be completely untrue...

Seriously...why is it that everyone automatically asks: "Oh, are you gonna do forensics? That looks so cool!"

 

[deschutes]

And he resurfaces! How's surgery treating you, Brian? I got that coming up in February... with a hepatobiliary team - guess I won't be doing much but standing around in OR, if they even let me get in there.

Seriously...why is it that everyone automatically asks: "Oh, are you gonna do forensics? That looks so cool!"

I think we're going to live that with for the rest of our lives.

I usually say something to the effect of "I don't know, blood banking and transfusion medicine seems really interesting too!" which prompts the whole "I didn't know BB/TM/CC/MB etc. was part of pathology?" conversation.

~
In med school they ask you what you want to be when you grow up. Guess nobody's a good old-fashioned "doctor" anymore.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I've given up this whole explaining pathology to lay-people thing. I just tell people that I'm a scientist cuz that's what I am now and that's what I want to end up spending most of my time being. If the conversation goes further, I go on to tell them that I run a karate dojo on the side.

 

[beary]

guess I won't be doing much but standing around in OR, if they even let me get in there.

If they even let you get in there??!! Why would you WANT to get in there? I'm going back to the clinics in two months after being in the lab for four years and I hope to hide as much as possible.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I'm going back to the clinics in two months after being in the lab for four years and I hope to hide as much as possible.

In retrospect, I would've hidden more and left much earlier when I was a clinical clerk (aka unnecessary, worthless, penniless, punching bag).

 

[deschutes]

Well, my only real O.R. experience so far is from Ob/Gyn. I thought it might be interesting to see something - if they let me. I mean, what's the alternative? Post-op rounds ad nauseum. Whee.

I suppose I'll regret saying those lines in March.

Clinic (depending on what sort of clinic) is not that bad. Still infinitely preferable to floors - ick!

In retrospect, I would've hidden more and left much earlier

HAH! Not like you could have!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

HAH! Not like you could have!

What are you implying? Are you trying to start something?

 

[deschutes]

What are you implying?

I'm saying that as a clerk you don't get to leave early and you don't get to hide, period.

Are you trying to start something?

I'll take you out any day, Milonakis!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I'm saying that as a clerk you don't get to leave early and you don't get to hide, period.

Yes I'm sure that's what you meant.

I'll take you out any day, Milonakis!

Nuh uh. No you di'int! Oh it's on!

 

[deschutes]

Yes I'm sure that's what you meant.

Oh? Then what did I mean?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

deschutes, what is your avatar? it's kinda disturbing in one sense but implies that you're some sort of a badass with a napoleon complex.....

 

[deschutes]

deschutes, what is your avatar? it's kinda disturbing in one sense but implies that you're some sort of a badass with a napoleon complex.....

Topic changer! Topic changer!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Topic changer! Topic changer!

Question dodger! Question dodger!

 

[deschutes]

I'll answer yours if you answer mine.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I'll answer yours if you answer mine.

it's ok. i know what it is now. my roommate, who is big into cartoons, identified it for me.

 

[deschutes]

How dare you call me an "it"!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

How dare you call me an "it"!

you look tired...maybe it's because it's way past your bedtime.

 

[deschutes]

Aha! Now I know for certain you have run out of things to say.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Aha! Now I know for certain you have run out of things to say.

i wish i had skillz...like numchuck skillz, bowhunting skillz, computer hackinng skillz...

 

[deschutes]

i wish i had skillz...like numchuck skillz, bowhunting skillz, computer hackinng skillz...

You gotta get with it, man. This isn't the 80's anymore!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

You gotta get with it, man. This isn't the 80's anymore!

i know i know *sigh*

 

[yaah]

You know what - I believe I was up later than both of you so phooey on you. I went to bed at 5:30 and was up at 8. And no naps today dammit, I'm wide awake.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

You know what - I believe I was up later than both of you so phooey on you. I went to bed at 5:30 and was up at 8. And no naps today dammit, I'm wide awake.

O contrare. I went to bed at 7 am and woke up at 10 am so phooey on you. But good job on staying up way way past your bedtime. Wanna cookie?

 

[yaah]

O contrare. I went to bed at 7 am and woke up at 10 am so phooey on you. But good job on staying up way way past your bedtime. Wanna cookie?

I just had 4 cookies, thank you very much. Washing it down with Bass Ale. I think I may have drank more than you this weekend.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I just had 4 cookies, thank you very much. Washing it down with Bass Ale. I think I may have drank more than you this weekend.

yes...but you don't have step 2 coming up

i'll catch up next weekend

 

[yaah]

yes...but you don't have step 2 coming up

i'll catch up next weekend

That reminds me I need to start thinking about step III.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

That reminds me I need to start thinking about step III.

and step 3BS

 

[yaah]

and step 3BS

Nice try, I ain't fallin for it this time.

 

[deschutes]

I went to bed at 6:30, so nyah nyah to yaah! You are no match for owl natives.

(Except in the light of day... *groan* It beats me into a stupor, although since it is the afternoon now, the worst part is over.)