The demand for qualified pathologists’ assistants is growing every year. Increasing pressures on healthcare systems to control costs have led to an increasing reliance on allied health personnel and physician extenders in the practice of medicine, in particular pathology and laboratory medicine. In addition, the manpower shortages facing laboratories nationwide have caused pathologists to critically evaluate their staffing needs in an effort to provide the highest quality laboratory services in a cost-effective manner.

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.

We at Drexel University College of Medicine are proud to be at the forefront of the field providing a Master of Pathologists’ Assistants program.

Curriculum

The high degree of responsibility assumed by a pathologists’ assistant requires skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to provide those services appropriate for an anatomic pathology setting.

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 course work will include microbiology, 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 February 15 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
• Two letters of recommendation
• 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?

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.

University 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.msche.org to read more about the professional activities of this organization.

Program Accreditation

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/certification to read more about the certification program and the professional activities of this organization

Contact Us

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