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Master of Pathologists’ Assistant

General Information
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.

About the Program
The Master of 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 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. 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. As such, the program joins seven other accredited Pathologists' Assistant programs in the United States (Duke University, Quinnipiac University, Wayne State University, Ohio State University, University of Maryland, Indiana University, and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. 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 BOR): The ASCP BOR, in conjunction with the AAPA, has established a national certification program for Pathologists' Assistants. In 2005, the ASCP BOR first offered a national certification examination for Pathologists' Assistants. In order to be eligible for the BOR examination, applicants must be graduates of a pathologists' assistant educational program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) or be able to demonstrate that they meet specific training and work experience requirements. Visit the ASCP BOR website at www.ascp.org/bor to read more about the certification program and the professional activities of t his organization.

Professional Affiliation
The American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA): The AAPA is the only national professional organization for pathologists’ assistants. The mission of the AAPA is to provide appropriately educated and trained professionals to become an integral part of the anatomic pathology team, assisting the pathologist to provide appropriate, high quality, cost effective, comprehensive pathology and laboratory medicine services to the consumer.  Further, the AAPA serves as the main vehicle for supporting, promoting, and maintaining the highest educational training, professional and ethical standards for its members, and for sustaining the pathologists’ assistant as an established allied health professional.

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 Pathologists’ Assistant web page.