Description of Career. Forensic pathologists are trained physicians who examine the bodies of people who died suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently. It is their responsibility for determining the ultimate cause and manner of death (homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, or unknown.) Forensic pathologists also studies the medical history of the patient that died, evaluate crime scene evidence that includes eyewitness statements, they perform autopsies to uncover evidence of injury or disease, and they collect medical and trace evidence from the body for further analysis. A typical workday for a forensic pathologist is around 10-12 hours or longer. They spend most of their time in a lab where they perform autopsies or examine tissue samples under a microscope. The rest of their workday is writing official reports and making court appearances.
Education Requirements. In order for one to become a forensic pathologist, they must have the following education requirements. They must have a high school diploma, completed four years of college with a bachelor’s degree in any major, four years of medical school and earning a M.D or D.O degree, completed four to five years of training in anatomic, clinical and/or forensic pathology, one year of residency or fellowship in forensic pathology, and finally a board certification after passing the exam. In high school, for you to prepare for this type of career you should take advanced science, math, and English courses, develop strong writing skills, and practice public speaking i.e. join the debate team. In medical school you can focus on patient care, do an autopsy pathology rotation as an elective to make sure this is the right specialty for you. Some other skills you might need for this career are very well developed communication skills, need to be very hard-working, and be excellent in all areas of science.
Salary. The salary of a forensic pathologist varies according to the employer and location and