Personal Desire for Future Studies in a Forensic Pathology

Forensic Pathology Business Plan

Executive Summary

Throughout my life, I’ve always had an interest in medicine and science, and therefore, I have a profound interest in becoming a forensic pathologist. I’m uniquely qualified for this position because of my hard work, and determination. Most importantly, my analytical and science skills will be very useful, as well as my attention to detail. Although I won’t be the first one in my family to attend university, it makes me proud to say I’ll be the first doctor within the family, achieve a point in my education that no one in my family has reached before. Due to the immense amount of deaths around nation, forensic pathologists are in high demand. According to Zusha Elinson, a reliable journalist from Wall Street Journal, “There are about 500 practicing board-certified forensic pathologists in the U.S., less than half the amount needed, based on the number of autopsies that have to be done” (Elinson, "States' Shortage of Forensic Pathologists Delays Autopsies”). Therefore, by becoming a forensic pathologist I’ll be able to minimize this shortage and contribute to the field.

To become a successful forensic pathologist, I’ll need at least 10 years of schooling, including medical school and a residency program, as well as masters, and doctorate, which will be requiring a lot of money. With the help of the scholarship offered to me by University of Washington, I’ll be able to afford most of these costs, although I’ll still be left with debt when I’m done with school. However, I except to earn between $200,000-$350,000 once I have reached the point where I want to be. I’ve wanted this since middle school, and ever since I’ve been taking the correct steps to make it happen.

Industry Analysis

A forensic pathologist is a public healthcare worker who is “an expert in investigating and evaluating cases of sudden, unexpected, suspicious, and violent death as well as other specific classes of death defined by law” (American Board of Pathology). Therefore, a forensic pathologist falls under the public healthcare industry. Within forensic pathology, I want to go into specifically violent deaths, for I find it a thrill to be able to help in catching a tormenter or killer. One of the most profitable and sought after sub-fields in public healthcare is forensic pathology. However, forensic pathology industry is a small one because of the work it contains. Because there’s more demand for this position right now, many schools are encouraging related programs, and there’s been an increase and advance “in forensic technology, including DNA analysis” (Romeika, “Recent Advances in Forensic Technology”.

Customer Analysis

The reason I chose forensic pathology out of all the possible positions I could do with medical school is because of my clients. I completely forbade the idea of working on a live person, in case of an unintended mistake that can cost someone’s life. Although you’re taught to be desensitized to such things, I don’t think I ever could be. In the field I’m choosing, however horrific and terrible it could be, the patients are already passed away. When someone dies, it’s the ones who are left behind that are left in agony and sadness. By finding out how this person died, or by discovering who killed them, I feel as if I’m bringing some type of relief and peace to the family of the dead person. Because death is a natural process that all humans go through, I will always be busy. Sudden deaths include also natural deaths, and before I reach to be able to study violent deaths, I must go through this stage. Within this stage of my career is where I’ll be practicing the most and having more clients than I probably ever will again. Death doesn’t choose by race, age, gender, which is what makes my career so wonderful. I have customers of all kinds.

Because forensic pathology is a field under public healthcare, the places I’ll be working will always be clean and sanitary. However, location is very important in this field. One thing one has to consider is the mortality rate within a state. The table below gives a list of the five states within U.S. that have the highest mortality rate.

Location Death Rate per 100,000

Alabama 909.1

Kentucky 906.3

Mississippi 937.6

West Virginia 929.1

Oklahoma 897.5

(Number of Deaths per 100,00 Population)

As can be seen, after schooling in University of Washington, which has a high rate in suicides, I will be moving to one of the states. Which one I have not decided yet, for I first want to attend Washington. One thing at a time. But by moving to one of these states, I’ll be able to have a busy work day, and improve myself more.

Competitive Analysis

Although there isn’t much competition within this field, there are still some. As mentioned before, forensic pathology is a public healthcare field and therefore is practiced within the hospital’s buildings. However, there are successful forensic pathologists out there, such as the founder of the Forensic Medical Group Inc. in Northern California, who have started their own forensic pathology company, and have been surprisingly successful. Forensic Medical Group itself has already expanded within three counties since 1975. Although private companies such as Forensic Medical Group provide a more detailed and thorough autopsy, they also make their clients pay for “death scene investigators, toxicology testing, and technicians to assist with physical labor”. Therefore, it isn’t probably for such a company to grow so much, because not everyone will be able to afford such services, whereas in a hospital, if there’s a suspicious death, it must be looked into, whether one can pay it or not.

Many think that due to cremation, many deaths remain unsolved. However, even when a body gets cremated, beforehand a thorough autopsy is still done. Therefore, there aren’t any indirect competitors within this field, because there aren’t multiple ways to do an autopsy. But there are different forensic pathologists with different insights into things, and a thing one forensic pathologist might’ve not noticed, the other one will. Because of my desire to work in a hospital, I will be able to grow quickly and learn a lot more, and eventually surpass private companies such as Forensic Medical Group, and perhaps create a private company of my own that is both affordable and detailed.

Operations Plan

Forensic pathology is a field that requires a lot of time to master. As of right now, I am completing my AA in a pathway to a major in Biology, which takes two years. Afterwards, I’ll be transferring to University of Washington to attain my Bachelors in Biology, which takes another two years. Meanwhile, I’ll need to vigorously study for the MCAT, which establishes if you can attend medical school or not. A long and difficult test, it measures your ability of sciences, math, and determination. Assuming I pass the test, I will be attending medical school in University of Washington, which takes between four to six years. My last year there, I am planning on transferring to Stanford, although it is going to be very difficult, since their acceptance rate is lower than 5%. After completing medical school, I will be able to work in certain hospitals, and even while I’m in medical school I’ll be able to gain hands-on experience by interning with the school’s hospital. However, to specialize in forensic pathologist, I have to complete a six-year residency. To me this is going to be the most challenging stage, because up until now I’ll be attending schools of my choice. But during residency, although I select various options for where I want to do it, it’s the school’s decision to ultimately decide where I’m going to complete the residency.

After completing my residency, I would have to take another test, the MOC, to be certified as an official forensic pathologist under the American Board of Pathology. Once I have this certification I can finally practice in hospitals as a forensic pathologist. But I do not wish to stop there. I love learning new things, and there’s so much to learn in this world. Therefore, while working hard, I am planning on getting a Master’s degree in something that will be a completely new aspect to me but that will also complement my current career. Thankfully, a Master’s degree takes only two years to obtain, which after all this schooling, shouldn’t be difficult.

Although it sounds crazy and overwhelming as I’m writing all this down, I’ve been making steps to make this happen. This summer I’ll be flying to Washington State to tour the school, make sure it’s the correct fit for me. Also, I’ll be meeting a Washington resident and offer to pay their electric bills for a year, so I can have in-state tuition when I arrive to the University. The thing that saddens me is because of my desire to have such a success in my life, I don’t think I’ll have much time for family, which is why I don’t want to have a family until I am at least done with medical school. I know how it is to grow up with a single parent, and I wouldn’t want to do that to my children, ever.

As can be seen, I’ve thought this through, with all its benefits and risks. However much a rocky road it’ll be, it’ll be the one I’m taking until the end. Becoming a successful forensic pathologist will make me feel satisfied with my life, and most importantly accomplished. It’s everything I have ever wished for. No one said it’s going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it.