Postdoctoral Professional Fellowships in Laboratory Medicine.
Doctoral level scientists often pursue a traditional academic route, focusing their efforts on research and education. However, additional options exist for those that are interested in using their laboratory and research skills in a clinical setting. Clinical laboratory directors serve as the interface between the clinical laboratory and the users of laboratory test results. This article describes these career paths options for PhD scientists. Clinical laboratory directors are primarily trained via one of two routes: physicians that have been trained in clinical pathology or non-physician doctoral scientists that have completed professional fellowship training. This article will focus on the latter of these 2 routes. In the United States, completing a postdoctoral fellowship in laboratory-specific professional fields qualifies non-physician doctoral scientists as laboratory directors and consultants. Their expert consultation provides invaluable insight into testing procedures such as possible sources of interference or inaccurate test results, preferred testing for specific clinical situations, and confirmatory methods. They must also be knowledgeable about current instrumentation, assay limitations, and the newest available technologies. One of the older and more developed professional fellowships in the United States, clinical chemistry, encompasses many laboratory disciplines and will be highlighted in detail. Training information specific to clinical immunology, clinical microbiology, and clinical genetics is also discussed.
University of Utah and ARUP Laboratories, School of Medicine , Department of Pathology.
Joely A
JA
Straseski
curriculum; fellowship; graduate training; laboratory medicine; postdoctoral training
Clin Chim Acta. 1994 Dec 31;232(1-2):47-51
7720279
Clin Chem. 2006 Jun;52(6):917-49
16569705
Clin Biochem. 1995 Oct;28(5):481-97
8582047
Clin Lab Med. 2007 Jun;27(2):435-46; abstract ix
17556095
Br Med J. 1975 Jan 4;1(5948):35-6
1120226
Clin Chim Acta. 1994 Dec 31;232(1-2):1-9
7720266