Re: Unions for Histology - need for a degree
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From: | "Tony Henwood" <henwood@mail.one.net.au> |
To: | HistoNet@Pathology.swmed.edu |
Reply-To: | |
Date: | Wed, 12 May 1999 23:24:20 +0000 |
Content-Type: | text/plain; charset=US-ASCII |
Some thoughts from down under:
Australia has had Science degree courses in pathology for over 20
years. After "matriculating" from high school (a culmination of 12
years schooling), you hope to have a high enough score to get into
University. In laboraory medicine, you can major in Biochemistry,
Microbiology, Cellular pathology (histo and cytology) and
haematology. Lately you can also major in molecular biology. This can
take three to four years.
To be employed as a science officer in a pathology laboratory, you
must have a science degree majoring in one or more of the above
disciplines. Technicians on the other hand require a certificate or
diploma from a College of further education or similar, though this
may change. To hold a managerial role in histopathology you must be a
science officer (accreditation requirements).
Pay scales in Australia are overall tied into Professional Officers
Payscales ( with a little variation). These professional officers
include university qualified nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists
etc.
A degree is more than just a piece of paper. You are presented with
knowledge of a complex nature in the fields you are majoring in. Your
analysis and writing skills are developed. You are taught to think
laterally, to solve and more importantly to predict problems. To
apply knowledge from other sciences to develop new procedures. This
is what is expected of Science Officers.
Many of the older med techs had to aquire these skills the hard way.
Fortunately, in Australia many of these "oldies" are much involved in
teaching and maintaining the quality of these degrees. Their
experience is the foundation of our Science degrees.
I hope this helps the discussion. Equal Pay equates with equal
responsibility, knowledge and experience. For the profession to grow,
professional staff must be present. A degree will be a strong basis
for a profession.
Tony Henwood
www2.one.net.au/~henwood
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