Academic Pathologist


Dr. James MacLachlan

Think for a moment about your dream job. Does yours include freedom to pursue your personal interests at work? Worldwide travel? Flexibility to have a family? An intellectually stimulating environment? Varied work responsibilities? An integrated outlook? If so, being an academic pathologist could be the right career for you.

In talking with Dr. James MacLachlan, a pathologist and faculty member of the UC Davis veterinary school, I learned that the best thing about an academic career is the unlimited opportunities it presents to you. "You can make of it whatever you want," he exclaimed repeatedly. He himself has crafted an exciting career while making significant contributions to the field of veterinary pathology.

Dr. MacLachlan was born and raised in New Zealand. There were some pets in the household as he grew up, cats mainly, and he had spent a lot of time on farms, but the reason he decided to go to vet school had little to do with animals. His older brother was going to vet school, so he decided he'd go too. Unlike American vet schools, in New Zealand the students have one year of pre-vet training, and the top 48 students at the end of the year are chosen to complete advanced veterinary training.

Dr. MacLachlan's favorite part of vet school was the social aspect. He enjoyed the comraderie of young people that developed when they weren't at home or in class. He also enjoyed some of his classes, especially the history of infectious diseases, as well as microbiology, pathology, and epidemiology.

Dr. MacLachlan thought at first that a career in virology would be a good choice. He went to the University of Mississippi to earn his master's in virology, but something was missing. He found it frustrating to only look at one aspect of the problem - in this case the virus. He wanted to be able to look at it in the context of the host and the environment, so he decided to pursue his education in a different field.

This desire brought Dr. MacLachlan to UC Davis where he did a combined PhD in virology and anatomic pathology. He was able to complete the program and pass the ACVP (American College of Veterinary Pathologists) boards in three years. When asked what was the most important thing he learned in this program, Dr. MacLachlan had several responses, including "If you don't enjoy doing it, don't do it." He also emphasized understanding that this learning process is for yourself, not for others. He felt it was a time to develop a skill set one could use throughout one's career, and that the combined program allowed him to "develop a global understanding" of medicine. He praised the veterinary school curriculum because it gives students a broad biomedical base that cannot be found in other professions.

After earning his diploma, he became and assistant professor of pathology at the North Caroline State veterinary school. It was a "fun, great job," and he was thrilled at the total latitude he had in projects and teaching. After NC State, Dr. MacLachlan returned to Davis and is currently Chair of the Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology department. "Everything" about his job brings him satisfaction. He gets to wear many different hats, going from being teacher to researcher to doctor. He enjoys the freedom of being his own boss. He gets to travel all over the world as a part of his job. He has the time to have a wonderful family and a collection of pets, including a Dalmatian with a "back you could land a plane on."

Dr. MacLachlan was eager to give advice to students interested in pathology. "Pathology is an incredibly attractive career option. The need for pathologists is not doing anything but increasing. The demand is limitless for scientists who have an understanding of organismal biology." He also urges students to consider a career in academia. Many professors are retiring, and there is a need for their posts to be filled. He says the pay is enough for you to enjoy a good lifestyle, and he had trouble imagining a more fulfilling career. He's been doing this since 1976, and he still has the same level of enthusiasm as when he started. He adds that one must be honest about one's abilities. The field requires intellectual ability and organization, and at some point the student will have to be a teacher. "Part of enjoyment is success," he says, so one who is not able to attain success in the field may not have a positive experience.

After spending time with Dr. MacLachlan, it's hard not to feel excited about a career as an academic pathologist. He fell into the field almost by chance, but it was obviously a perfect fit. His description of a job filled with challenge and freedom, travel and variety make this sound like a dream job.