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MClSc Pathologists' Assistant Graduate Program

The Pathologists' Assistant program was established in 2007. In 2012, the program was approved as a professional program leading to a Master of Clinical Sciences-Pathologists' Assistant. Our program was the first of its kind accredited in Canada. Pathologists' Assistants (PAs) are highly-trained health professionals who work under the supervision of a medically-qualified pathologist providing a broad range of services in diagnostic and molecular pathology.

The extra technical skills brought to the laboratory by PAs standardize and enhance the overall quality in the practice of diagnostic and molecular pathology. PAs assume major responsibility for the initial examination and dissection of all surgically removed tissues and, to a variable extent, for the dissection of bodies during post-mortem examination.

What is a PA

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Minimum Financial Requirements
Change As of January 1, 2024, the minimum financial requirement for living expenses for new study permit applications is $20,635 for an individual student. Please see the Documents Required for a Study Permit Application section for more details.

New Study Permit Cap Announcement
In light of the Canadian government’s ongoing changes to the country’s immigration policies, and the concomitant impact on our graduate programs here at Western, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) has created a new web page: Changes to Canadian Study Permit Policies.

This page will now act as a dedicated space (the “gold standard”) for all graduate program-related study permit information moving forward. We have also included a link to the new Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) "processing times" tool so applicants can get a better sense of how long it may take to process their study permit application. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis as we continue to receive new information in collaboration with Western International and our other partners across campus.

A small but powerful team

The Master of Clinical Pathologists’ Assistant Program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry may be small in size, but that doesn’t take anything away from the impact of their work and commitment to the community. We sat down with one of just six students in the program, Stephanie Sharpley, to understand how the department separates itself from others and provides students a highly specialized experience.

“The two-year clinical based program offers a different perspective on the health care system. It provides a rich environment for practical and theoretical learning,” Sharpley said.

With more than a year spent in clinical laboratory rotations across Ontario including London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), Toronto Forensic Unit, Mount Sinai Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, students work through rotations that are diverse and learn from talented and knowledgeable individuals.

“Because pathology in general is kind of a mystery, people are often confused as to what it entails – it’s not just disease. Working through different rounds and interacting with medical staff allows us to gain experience in many different areas, which is one of the most unique aspects of the department,” Sharpley said.

The six students are supported by a team of faculty, staff, pathologist assistants and laboratory technologists. And thanks to efiicient communication and a team-focused environment, the students are able to excel in their studies and work.

It’s a busy operation that like so many other clinical programs is teaching while providing care.

By Darrien Miller

Schulich Link: Click here

Contact Us

Tracey Koning, Graduate Coordinator
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Dental Sciences Building, Room 4044
Western University
London, Ontario N6A 5C1
Email: pathgrad@uwo.ca

Program Directors