How To Become a Neuropathologist: Step-by-Step Guide
Learn about the steps important to pursuing a career as a neuropathologist, including education, skills, salary and more.
Neuropathologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system. They use a variety of techniques, including brain imaging, to examine tissue samples and make determinations about the cause of death in cases of neurological disease. If you are interested in becoming a neuropathologist, it is important to know that this is a highly specialized field and requires several years of education and training. In this article, we discuss what a neuropathologist does, the average salary of a neuropathologist and the steps to take to pursue this career path.
What Does a Neuropathologist Do?
Neuropathologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing diseases and disorders of the nervous system. This includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. Neuropathologists typically work in hospitals or research laboratories and often collaborate with other medical professionals, such as neurologists, neurosurgeons and psychiatrists.
Some common duties of a neuropathologist include:
- Examining tissue samples from patients to look for evidence of disease
- Conducting autopsies on patients who have died from neurological conditions
- Studying the effects of various diseases and disorders on the nervous system
- Identifying new or emerging diseases
- Writing research papers on their findings
- Presenting their findings at conferences or other events
- Supervising junior staff members
- Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in neuroscience
Neuropathologist Salary and Job Outlook
The average salary for a neuropathologist is $59,225. This figure can vary based on the level of experience, education, industry and geographical location of the neuropathologist.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job prospects for neuropathologists to grow at an average rate over the next decade. This is due in part to the aging population, as the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related dementias are expected to rise. Neuropathologists play an important role in diagnosing these conditions.
How to Become a Neuropathologist
Here are several steps you should take to become a neuropathologist.
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field
Neuropathologists typically hold a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry or another related field. Some schools offer neurobiology programs that can help you develop the skills you need to become a neuropathologist. These programs often include coursework in cellular and molecular biology as well as neuroscience.
During your undergraduate studies, it is important to take courses in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. This will give you an understanding of how the human body works and prepare you for medical school.
2. Attend medical school and earn a doctorate in medicine
After earning a bachelor’s degree, prospective neuropathologists must attend medical school. Medical school lasts four years and includes classroom instruction and hands-on training in laboratories where students learn about the human body and how to treat disease. During this time, students also complete rotations where they work with patients under the supervision of experienced doctors.
During their last two years of medical school, aspiring neuropathologists take courses focused on pathology. This allows them to study diseases at the cellular level and prepare for their career as a neuropathologist.
3. Complete a residency in pathology
After earning your doctorate in medicine, you need to complete a residency program in pathology. A pathology residency typically lasts four years and provides hands-on training in neuropathology. During this time, residents work directly with cadavers and laboratory animals to learn how to identify diseases based on microscopic examination of bodily tissues and fluids.
During the first two years of a pathology residency, residents focus on general pathology. They study common diseases and conditions that affect multiple organ systems. The next two years are dedicated to subspecialty rotations. Residents can choose to specialize in anatomic or clinical pathology. Anatomic pathologists focus on identifying disease through lab tests and examining body tissue. Clinical pathologists focus on diagnosing patients based on their symptoms and medical history.
4. Obtain certification from the American Board of Pathology
The next step in your neuropathologist career path is to obtain certification from the American Board of Pathology. To qualify for this credential, you must complete a one-year internship and pass an examination that tests your knowledge of pathology procedures, laboratory practices, anatomy and clinical skills. Once you successfully complete all these steps, you can legally call yourself a board-certified neuropathologist.
5. Gain experience working with neuropathology specimens
Neuropathologists typically work in a hospital setting, where they can gain experience working with neuropathology specimens. During your residency, you may have the opportunity to assist pathologists on cases involving the brain and nervous system. You may also be able to shadow neuropathologists after completing your training.
Working as an assistant to a neuropathologist is another way to gain hands-on experience with neuropathology. Assistants help pathologists perform tasks such as preparing slides for examination and managing lab tests. Working alongside a neuropathologist can give you valuable insight into the field and allow you to network with professionals who might be able to offer you a job later in your career.
6. Develop strong research skills
Neuropathologists must be able to conduct research and read studies that relate to the field. You should develop skills in identifying trends in neuropathology research and understanding how they apply to clinical practice, clinical trials and new developments in technology and equipment. Research also plays a large role in developing standards for care and protocols for diagnosis.
7. Stay up to date on changes in the medical industry
Neuropathologists must stay up to date on the latest developments in medicine and neuroscience. This is because new research findings may influence how neuropathologists perform their jobs, for example by providing new information about what types of brain tissue look for specific signs of disease.
Neuropathology also relies heavily on technology, so it’s important that neuropathologists know how to use the tools available to them. For instance, they need to be familiar with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and other devices used to diagnose neurological conditions.
