According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in the last year alone, more than 76 million people from 31 countries needed humanitarian assistance and the number of people displaced by conflict exceeded 51 million. That’s the highest number since World War II! But when you hear the words “humanitarian crisis,” what’s your initial association? Natural disaster? Disease epidemic? War? Does laboratory medicine spring to mind? I would hazard a guess the answer is probably “no.” Imagine, then, the level of awareness among the general public, and even other medical professionals, of the lifesaving role that pathology and lab medicine play during these crises – such contributions certainly don’t make mainstream press. Recent disease outbreaks have been in the headlines for months on end, and though lab medicine has been vital in helping bring both Ebola and Zika epidemics under control, the brave work of the doctors involved has not been recognized. Why? As always, it comes back to (you guessed it) communication – or lack thereof.
What I’m suggesting is this: when an opportunity presents itself to speak with the press or to get involved in social media campaigns, take it! Think of how much more recognition pathology will get if national or international news channels aired interviews with pathologists or wrote about a pathology-related hashtag that’s “gone viral?” Just as the profession is struggling to entice new trainees because of diminishing pathologist educators, so too is it suffering because most don’t talk about their work to people not immediately associated with their jobs. You know how valuable lab medicine is, and yet pathology services only make up around two percent of global healthcare spend – shocking! I’m so passionate about this, as I’m sure you are too. So when the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) asked if The Pathologist would partner with them on two events they’re hosting in November to highlight the crucial role of the laboratory in humanitarian disasters and public health emergencies, we jumped at the chance. The first, Pathology is Global (1), will unite experts from the pathology and healthcare communities with NGOs, including prominent figures involved in the refugee and Ebola crises in Iraq and Sierra Leone, respectively. And during the College’s International Pathology Day (2), we will be co-hosting a roundtable – streamed live online – with a panel who will debate how pathology education and training can be strengthened in low and middle income countries. I can’t wait to hear insightful and valuable discussions on topics that need more of our attention. Registration details are in the references. I hope to see you there!
Fedra Pavlou Editor
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References
- “Pathology is Global”, November 1, 2016, Royal Society of Medicine, London. Register at http://bit.ly/2cjxNmR International Pathology Day Roundtable, November 16, 2016. Register your interest at international@rcpath.org (use “IPD2016” in the subject line of the email).
