Meet the inaugural class of MUSC’s Pathologists’ Assistant program

This May marks an important milestone for MUSC’s College of Health Professions as the Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant Studies (MSPATH) program welcomes its inaugural cohort. As the first class in the program, these students are helping launch a new pathway in diagnostic medicine through hands-on pathology training, clinical education, and laboratory science.

The inaugural MSPATH cohort brings together students from a range of academic and professional backgrounds, united by a shared interest in pathology and a commitment to improving patient care.

Various paths to studying pathology at MUSC
For many students in the inaugural cohort, the journey to becoming a pathologists’ assistant wasn’t linear.

Anna Johnson, a Furman University graduate with a background in Classics, initially pursued medicine before discovering her strengths in a more clinically focused role. “It’s a career that prioritizes continuing education and allows you to make a difference in patient care while doing individual, tactile work,” Johnson shared.

For Twana Richardson, an early interest in medicine was shaped by family influence and a long-standing curiosity about how the body works. Over time, that curiosity developed into a passion for pathology and its investigative nature. “I really enjoy the investigative nature of dissection and pathology in general,” Richardson said. “Discovering a career that allows me to do that all day was a dream come true.”

Eli Smith began at MUSC’s College of Medicine, where working with pathology faculty shaped his career path. “I was particularly impressed by the pathologists I was privileged to learn from,” he said. After reconsidering his professional goals, he discovered pathologists’ assistant as a profession he had not previously known existed. As a Charleston local and former MUSC student and employee, he described the timing of the program’s launch as “serendipitous.”

Matthew J. Mims brings a strong laboratory foundation to the cohort. In his work as a histology technician, he developed a deeper appreciation for grossing, histology, and cytology in patient diagnosis. “I wanted to be involved as much as possible in providing patient care, and the pathologists’ assistant’s role grants me the opportunity to do just that,” he said.

Why students chose MUSC’s Pathologists’ Assistant Studies program
Across the cohort, students were drawn to MUSC’s strong reputation, advanced laboratory resources, and commitment to innovation in health professions education, including the program’s dedicated pathology lab, VR anatomy training, and clinical learning opportunities within a major academic medical center.

Looking ahead
As classes begin, students are most looking forward to building foundational skills in gross examination, lab procedures, and diagnostic thinking. They also emphasized the value of learning alongside their classmates and building interprofessional relationships across MUSC.

Shaping the future
For the inaugural Pathologists’ Assistant Studies cohort, this moment carries special meaning.

As Matthew Mims shared, the cohort has the opportunity to “set the foundation and legacy going forward for all cohorts,” a sentiment echoed across the group as they prepare to begin their studies.

Together, the inaugural cohort represents the beginning of the MUSC MSPATH program—and a growing future for training in pathology and diagnostic science.