Yesterday marked International Pathology Day and Pathology North at Tamworth hospital opened its doors to give the public a better idea of what happens in the labs.

“Pathology is one of the major disciplines in medicine. Almost 100 per cent of cancer diagnoses are made by pathologists,” anatomical pathologist Dr Asokan Pasupathy said.

While most people will require pathology work at some point in their life, the discipline is under-recognised by the general public.

Dr Pasupathy said their work was largely done behind the scenes.

“We work a lot, and we have to give reports to people as quickly as possible,” he said.

Students from Peel High School were given a tour of the laboratory to help them understand the process of lab work.

“They were looking around the laboratory and got to see the process from beginning to end. Hopefully they better appreciate what is involved after they get a simple request to get a blood test,” laboratory manager Don Clausen said.

University of NSW graduate Anthony Ralston has fulfilled a boyhood dream of a career in science since being employed by Pathology North three weeks ago.

Mr Ralston said he was drawn to scientific work after watching Jurassic Park as a child and followed a path to pathology after completing work experience at Tamworth hospital while he was a high school student.

He said he enjoyed the practical aspect of work, after years of learning at university, but admitted he still had a lot to learn.