Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant

About the Program

91.0 semester credits

A pathologists' assistant is an intensely trained allied health professional who provides anatomic pathology services under the direction and supervision of a pathologist. Pathologists' assistants interact with pathologists in the same manner that physicians' assistants carry out their duties under the direction of physicians in surgical and medical practice.

The Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant program at Drexel offers traditional and non-traditional post-baccalaureate students the opportunity to train in the highly specialized field of anatomic pathology. This two-year, full-time program begins in May of each year. The first year is comprised of the instructional portion of the program, supplemented by pathology laboratory exposure. The second year of the program is composed of several hospital-based clinical rotations offering progressively responsible experience in autopsy and surgical pathology. These rotations are supplemented with informal classroom education.

Program Accreditation

The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACHE): The Commission on Higher Education is the unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region. It examines the institution as a whole, rather than specific programs within the institution. Drexel University is accredited by MSACHE, last reaffirmed in 2002 and is currently in the review process for future reaccreditation. Visit the MSACHE website at www.msache.org to read more about the professional activities of this organization.

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): NAACLS, in conjunction with the AAPA, has established national standards for Pathologists' Assistant training programs. The standards include both didactic course work and clinical experiences necessary to properly educate a pathologists' assistant. The Master of Pathologists' Assistant program at the Drexel University College of Medicine is accredited by NAACLS. Visit the NAACLS website at www.naacls.org to read more about the professional activities of this organization.

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
8410 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. , Suite 670, Chicago, IL, 60631,773-714-8880.

Professional Certification
The American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP BOC): The ASCP BOC, in conjunction with the AAPA, has established a national certification program for Pathologists' Assistants. In 2005, the ASCP BOC first offered a national certification examination for Pathologists' Assistants. In order to be eligible for the BOC examination, applicants must be graduates of a pathologists' assistant educational program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). Visit the ASCP BOC website at www.ascp.org/bor to read more about the certification program and the professional activities of this organization.

Professional Affiliation

The American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA): The AAPA is the only national professional organization for pathologists’ assistants.

The AAPA:

• is a not-for-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to advancing the pathologists' assistant profession by providing its members with education, networking, and professional support;
• supports professional competency through program accreditation and individual certification;
• Promotes public and professional awareness of the pathologist's assistant as an integral member of the healthcare team.

Visit the AAPA website at www.pathologistsassistants.org to read more about the professional activities of this association.

Career Opportunities

Pathologists’ assistants are employed in community hospitals, academic centers such as medical schools and university hospitals, private pathology laboratories, medical research centers, government hospitals and medical examiner offices.

For more information about this program, visit the College of Medicine's Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant program web page.

Admission Requirements

A pathologist’s assistant is someone who has the ability to relate to people, the capacity for calm and reasoned judgment and who demonstrates a commitment to quality patient care.

The program's courses and content are ideal for:

• Recent graduates with a degree in a biological or allied health science, with exposure to anatomy, physiology, chemistry and microbiology. Previous exposure to Pathology is recommended.
• Allied health professionals, in particular cytotechnologists, histotechnologists and medical technologists.

Admission requirements

Students will be selected on the basis of adequate educational background and medical experience. A bachelor's degree in a biological or allied health science with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, is the minimum requirement for acceptance into the Master’s Degree Program. Prerequisite course work will include microbiology, human anatomy, physiology, mathematics, English composition, general chemistry, organic and/or biochemistry and biological science.

All candidates will be required to have a formal interview with the Selection Committee prior to final acceptance. Deadline for submission of the application is the second Friday in February of the year in which the students plan to enroll. The applicants will be notified of the Committee’s decision on a rolling basis.
Candidates for admission must provide the following credentials:

• Completed application form
• Resume
• Transcript of college academic record
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• Three letters of evaluation
• Self-assessment essays:
  A. Discuss personal goals, conditions, or career aspirations that motivate you to pursue graduate study at Drexel University.
  
  B. What are your most important accomplishments?
  
  C. What do you expect to achieve through this program?

For further information, contact:

James W. Moore, MHS, PA (ASCP)
Pathologists’ Assistant (FAAPA)
Program Co-Director
Drexel University College of Medicine
Office of Professional Studies in the Health Sciences
245 N. 15th Street, Mail Stop 344
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192
215-762-4692
james.moore@drexelmed.edu

Tina Rader, MHS, PA (ASCP)
Pathologists’ Assistant (FAAPA)
Program Co-Director
Drexel University College of Medicine
Office of Professional Studies in the Health Sciences
245 N. 15th Street, Mail Stop 344
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192
215-762-4692
tina.rader@drexelmed.edu

Plan of Study 

Curriculum

91.0 credits.

Clinical Placement Sites

The Master of Science in Pathologists' Assistant program has an extensive network of clinical placement sites, including:

Albert Einstein Medical Center (Philadelphia)
Abington Memorial Hospital
Bryn Mawr Hospital
Chester County Hospital
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Emory University Hospital
Geisinger Medical Center
Hahnemann University Hospital
Lancaster General Hospital
Lankenau Hospital
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office
The Reading Hospital and Medical Center
St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Virtua Health
York Hospital

 Degree Requirements