Pathoma review: the low-cost pathology course most Step 1 students use

Pathoma is Dr. Husain Sattar’s pathology resource: a 218-page Fundamentals of Pathology book and 35+ hours of video lectures covering all 19 chapters. It covers one subject, pathology, which runs through much of Step 1. Subscriptions are $84.95 for 3 months, $99.95 for 12 months or $119.95 for 21 months, each with the 2026 paperback, and a one-month free trial is available.

Prices and contents from Pathoma’s own sign-up and product pages (pathoma.com), checked October 12, 2026. We have not tested it hands-on, so this review has no score.

Plans

From Pathoma’s sign-up page, October 2026. Each paid plan includes a paperback copy of the 2026 text.

What stands out

• Very affordable. A year of videos plus the book costs less than a single month of most question banks.
• Concise and principle-based. Dr. Sattar teaches mechanisms rather than lists, in a high-yield outline format with 300+ often-tested images.
• Written and taught by one author, so the book and videos match exactly.
• Long access options. The 21-month plan covers both pre-clinical years and Step 1 prep.

What to watch for

• Pathology only. It doesn’t cover physiology, pharmacology, microbiology or other subjects; pair it with a broader course like Boards and Beyond.
• No question bank. Use UWorld or AMBOSS for practice questions.
• Mainly for Step 1. It’s less useful for Step 2 CK, which is more clinical.
• Buy from Pathoma. Unofficial copies and “free download” sites circulate; only Pathoma’s own subscription gives you current videos and updates.