Skip to content

← Occupation guides

29-1222.00 · Task explorer

Physicians, Pathologists: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

Use the skill profile to plan your next practice →

Read the task inventory

This source lists 19 tasks, including 14 marked Core and 5 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2020.

Find a task in this inventory

19 tasks shown

Core · Task 17194 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17195 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17190 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17192 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17187 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17180 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17193 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17191 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17178 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17179 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Manage medical laboratories.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17181 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17182 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17185 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 17184 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Supplemental · Task 17188 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Supplemental · Task 17186 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Supplemental · Task 17189 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Supplemental · Task 17183 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Conduct research and present scientific findings.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Supplemental · Task 17177 · 08/2020 · Incumbent

Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.

Add to my exploration shortlist

My example, evidence or question

Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

Keep your worksheet

Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.