“It takes a special person to be capable, qualified, and courageous enough to crawl into the belly of the beast that is human life and human death…” William Petersen, co-producer and star of CSI: “Crime Scene Investigation”

Welcome to the world of the medical laboratory. It’s a world of technology, science, and mystery, where medical laboratory professionals and pathologists find answers to questions that are both routine and miraculous. Does this tissue sample contain cancer? What can this woman’s blood tell us about her health? Is this unborn child developing normally? Is this drug effectively stopping the infection? Why did this man die?

In the laboratory, a highly skilled team of pathologists and medical technologists, technicians and specialists work together to solve the mysteries, put the puzzles together, and answer the critical questions of medicine. More than 70% of medical decisions made by physicians are based on laboratory findings. In fact, the practice of modern medicine would be impossible without the tests performed in the laboratory.

Pathologists and medical laboratory professionals are the behind-the- scenes backbone of medicine. Their field of exploration includes a vast span, from gross human anatomy to the genetic and molecular particles that affect it. They are the researchers, the investigators, and some say the real heroes of medicine.

Pathologists and medical laboratory professionals play a critical role in collecting the information needed to give the best care to an ill or injured patient…and as health care grows, there is an increasing need for their skills in a virtually unlimited selection of practice settings. Hospitals, clinics, public health facilities, and commercial laboratories all have positions open right now for qualified laboratory professionals. In the near future, major areas of scientific exploration will include the human immune system, cell marker technology, bioengineering, DNA technology, and cancer research. In the clinical area, drug testing, therapeutic drug monitoring, and biogenetics are just a few of the specialties with openings. In commercial businesses and industries, positions are available in marketing and sales of laboratory equipment and products, as well as research and development of new technology. In the legal system, crime scene investigation and forensic science depend heavily on the skills of forensic pathologists and medical laboratory professionals.

Pathology and laboratory science are among the fastest growing professions in the United States. More than a quarter million people work in medical laboratory services alone. For someone who chooses a career as a pathologist or laboratory professional, the exploration… and the rewards…are endless.