Histology is a branch of medical science that involves studying the internal structure of tissues and cells. This is done by examining slides and cross-sections of tissue, using light or electron microscopes, by which cellular structures can be identified and differentiated using special histological stains. It is a crucial discipline needed in the medical field, as medical doctors and pathologists frequently rely on analysis brought about by histology to properly treat illnesses.
Aspiring medical professionals can consider the following types of roles in histology:
Histology Lab Technician/Technologist. The histology technologist works in a laboratory for most of the time, providing histological results to a supervising pathologist, who then provides diagnosis to patients. The HT gleans information through microscopically analyzing tissue slides. This job demands that the practitioner is proficient in anatomy, chemistry, biology, physiology, and other related medical fields.
Immunohistochemist. The career name is a mouthful, and the histology job itself is quite specialized. An immunohistochemist analyzes cellular tissue and localizes protein structures (antigens) using principles of antibody reactions. This is done using chemical stains and biological markers that enable the IHC specialist to track cellular behavior, and further providing doctors and researchers with a glimpse of how a particular disease or bodily process carry out their functions.
Medical Pathologist. A pathologist uses histology extensively to identify and characterize diseases. They consistently use tissue samples like biopsies and bodily fluids. Pathologists are usually the ones to diagnose cancer and other terminal illnesses, and then prescribe specific treatment for each kind of disease. There are also pathologists who specialize in autopsies.
Biomedical Scientist. The biomedical scientist is primarily a researcher in biomedical research, and therefore has little or no contact with patients. The biomedician works closely with medical engineers and other scientists in order to expand medical knowledge and push the frontiers of disease treatment.
These are some of the main histology jobs available in the field. Demand for these types of histology jobs is relatively steady, as they are full-time careers with potential for growth, as the medical world is continually in need of medical histology professionals.