Pathologists’ Assistant MS
Major: Pathologists' Assistant
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 91.0
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.0811
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-2055
About the Program
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies offers the Master of Science in Pathologists' Assistant (PathA) program. 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 PathA program at Drexel University College of Medicine offers traditional and nontraditional students the opportunity to train in the highly specialized field of anatomic pathology and earn a Master of Science degree. The two-year, full-time program begins in May of each year. The first year is the didactic portion of the program, supplemented by laboratory exposure. The second year is the clinical education portion of the program, composed of several hospital-based rotations offering progressively responsible experience in autopsy pathology, forensic pathology, pediatric pathology and surgical pathology. These rotations are supplemented with informal classroom education and examinations conducted monthly at the University.
Program Accreditation
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS): NAACLS, in conjunction with the American Association of Pathologist' Assistants, has established national standards for pathologists' assistant educational programs. The standards include both didactic coursework and clinical experiences necessary to properly educate a pathologists' assistant. The Master of Science in Pathologists' Assistant program at Drexel University College of Medicine is accredited by NAACLS. Visit the NAACLS website for more information about the professional activities of this organization.
Professional Certification
The American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC): The ASCP BOC, in conjunction with the American Association of Pathologist' Assistants, 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 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 was founded in 1972 as a not-for-profit volunteer organization of allied health practitioners dedicated to the advocacy and advancement of the pathologists' assistant profession. The AAPA advocates, promotes and sustains the highest education and professional standards for the profession, for all associated educational training programs and for individual pathologists' assistants. It is the mission of the AAPA to provide their members with high-quality, targeted continuing education (CE) opportunities, as well as professional development and leadership activities to include networking and support. Additionally, the AAPA strives to promote and support high quality standards within the scope of practice for pathologists' assistants in anatomic pathology, ensuring the provision of high-quality patient care.
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VISION: The AAPA will be the premier professional association for pathologists’ assistants, supporting the individual practitioners as they serve patients, pathologists, and the profession.
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MISSION STATEMENT: The AAPA is dedicated to providing comprehensive professional support for pathologists’ assistants.
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CORE VALUES: Quality Patient Care, Education, Advocacy, Collaboration.
Visit the AAPA website for additional information about 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.
Additional Information
For more information about this program, visit the College of Medicine's Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant program web page.
Contact Information
James W. Moore, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
Assistant Professor/Program Director
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
60 N. 36th Street, Room 10W35
Health Sciences Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104
267.359.2327
jwm44@drexel.edu
Kelly M. Lozier, MS, PA(ASCP)CM
Clinical Faculty and Clinical Coordinator
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
60 N. 36th Street, Room 10W32
Health Sciences Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104
267.359.2536
kmm599@drexel.edu
Pathologists' Assistant (PathA) Program
Division of Interdisciplinary and Career-Oriented Programs
60 N. 36th Street
Health Sciences Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104
267.359.2761
CoM_career-oriented@drexel.edu
Admission Requirements
A pathologists' 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, particularly 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 program. Prerequisite coursework will include microbiology, human anatomy, physiology, mathematics, English composition, general chemistry, organic and/or biochemistry, and biological science. Lab-based science courses are required.
All candidates will be required to have a formal interview with the Selection Committee prior to final acceptance. The deadline for submission of the application is the second Friday in February of the year in which the students plan to enroll.
Candidates for admission must provide the following credentials:
- Completed application form
- Resume
- Official transcripts from all college or university attended or where coursework was attempted or taken
- Official General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
- Three letters of evaluation
- Self-assessment essays:
- Discuss personal goals, conditions or career aspirations that motivate you to pursue graduate study at Drexel University.
- What are your most important accomplishments?
- What do you expect to achieve through this program?
Additional Information
See the Pathologists' Assistant How to Apply web page for detailed instructions.
For further information, contact:
Pathologists' Assistant (PathA) Program
Division of Interdisciplinary and Career-oriented Programs
60 N. 36th Street
Health Sciences Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104
267.359.2761
CoM_career-oriented@drexel.edu
Degree Requirements
| Required Courses | ||
| MFSP 551S | Human Function | 3.0 |
| MLAS 531S | Embryology | 3.0 |
| MLAS 545S | Fundamentals of Histology | 3.0 |
| MSPA 500S | Gross Anatomy | 5.0 |
| MSPA 510S | Laboratory Management | 2.0 |
| MSPA 520S | Medical Terminology | 3.0 |
| MSPA 530S | Biomedical Photography | 4.0 |
| MSPA 540S | Histotechnology I | 3.0 |
| MSPA 541S | Histotechnology II | 3.0 |
| MSPA 550S | Applied Anatomic Pathology | 4.0 |
| MSPA 560S | Medical Ethics | 2.0 |
| MSPA 570S | Medical Pathology I | 6.0 |
| MSPA 571S | Medical Pathology II | 4.0 |
| MSPA 580S | Medical Microbiology I | 4.0 |
| MSPA 581S | Medical Microbiology II | 3.0 |
| MSPA 590S | Leadership Skills for the Medical Profession | 3.0 |
| MSPA 600S | Surgical Pathology I | 6.0 |
| MSPA 601S | Surgical Pathology II | 6.0 |
| MSPA 602S | Surgical Pathology III | 6.0 |
| MSPA 610S | Autopsy Pathology I | 6.0 |
| MSPA 611S | Autopsy Pathology II | 6.0 |
| MSPA 612S | Autopsy Pathology III | 6.0 |
| Total Credits | 91.0 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | ||||
| MLAS 531S | 3.0 | ||||
| MLAS 545S | 3.0 | ||||
| MSPA 500S | 5.0 | ||||
| MSPA 510S | 2.0 | ||||
| MSPA 520S | 3.0 | ||||
| 16 | |||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| MSPA 530S | 4.0 | MFSP 551S | 3.0 | MSPA 560S | 2.0 |
| MSPA 540S | 3.0 | MSPA 541S | 3.0 | MSPA 600S | 6.0 |
| MSPA 570S | 6.0 | MSPA 550S | 4.0 | MSPA 610S | 6.0 |
| MSPA 580S | 4.0 | MSPA 571S | 4.0 | ||
| MSPA 590S | 3.0 | MSPA 581S | 3.0 | ||
| 20 | 17 | 14 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| MSPA 601S | 6.0 | MSPA 602S | 6.0 | ||
| MSPA 611S | 6.0 | MSPA 612S | 6.0 | ||
| 12 | 12 | ||||
| Total Credits 91 | |||||
Program Level Outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to prepare, describe and dissect human tissue surgical specimens including appropriate specimen accessioning, describing gross anatomic features, preparing tissues for histologic processing and photographing all pertinent gross findings.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform duties relating to the administrative maintenance of surgical pathology protocols, reports and data, and assuring the completion of specimen coding and billing.
- Demonstrate laboratory maintenance skills including assuring proper maintenance of equipment, provision of adequate supplies and cleanliness of the surgical pathology suite.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the procedures associated with the preparation of human postmortem examinations including ascertaining proper legal authorization for autopsy, retrieving the patient's medical chart and other pertinent data for review with the attending pathologist(s); and coordinating any requests for special specimen sampling.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform postmortem examinations, which may include: external examination, in situ organ inspection, evisceration, dissection, and dictation or recording of data, as well as selecting, preparing and submitting appropriate gross tissue sections for analysis.
- Demonstrate the ability to maintain anatomic pathology protocols, photographic and microscopic slides, and complete coding of samples.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform basic administrative, budgetary, supervisory and teaching duties.