Leader of the North

How did you discover pathology as a career?

I attended medical school at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where pathology was – and still is – a prominent faculty. I found pathology to be highly logical; it had a scientific bent, which I’ve always valued. We had excellent teachers and, as a result, I was not the only one of my classmates who went on to a successful career in pathology. And none of us have any regrets about the decision we made!

What makes a good pathology leader?

The answer is complicated! I think a good leader in pathology is no different to a good leader anywhere else. You need to have an interesting vision, work toward it, and engage others to work with you. As pathologists, we have to show people that we’re not hidden in our offices looking down our microscopes – we’re part of the larger world of medicine. I also think it’s important for people in any profession to give back. I owe my current position to the many pathologists who went before me, and I consider it my duty to support those who will come after. And that’s why it was such a great honor to serve as President of the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP-ACP). We may not be as large as some other pathology organizations, but we work hard to be innovative, and we certainly have things to contribute to the community. I really cherished my time as President, and I think CAP-ACP is in good hands for continued growth.

What’s next for you?

I’ve rededicated myself to my hospital work. At the moment, I’m busy leading the integration of two laboratories in two separate teaching hospitals, which is going well. I enjoy my clinical work more than ever and, even though I’ve been a dermatopathologist for many years now, there’s always more to learn. I continue to see things I’ve never seen before, and there are always new diagnostic aids to apply, which I find extremely exciting. And, of course, I still try to foster the careers of others as much as I can, both on my own and as Past President of CAP-ACP. I get a lot of enjoyment out of helping others succeed.

My goal is to continue practicing pathology for quite some time. I don’t see retirement on the horizon anytime soon – there are too many exciting things to do!

What’s your take on pathology education?

I like to engage my students and encourage them to think. When I get a group of students around me, they immediately open up their laptops. I make them close all but one (they’re allowed to have a scribe), because I want them talking with each other and drawing on personal experiences to problem-solve.

I also mentor junior faculty, which is not so much teaching as it is coaching – and, as a chief of service and a medical director, trying to provide them with the resources they need to be successful. I think mentoring is about connecting with people in a way that makes them feel valued and supported. For instance, I don’t set up meetings with people in my office; instead, I drop into their offices, sit down, and have a chat with them there. I think that makes people feel much more relaxed. They don’t have scary formal appointments; it’s a lower-key and more natural way of engaging with and supporting them.  I liked it when people took that approach with me in the past, so I give my faculty the same courtesy.

Do you have advice for others following in your footsteps?

One of our greatest challenges is leading a group of leaders. All medical professionals are leaders – each one of us has special interests and expertise – and developing the skills to help and manage people like that is essential. We parachute people into leadership roles because they’re strong researchers or great teachers or superb diagnosticians, but we don’t necessarily give them the skills and resources they need to do a good job unassisted.

In pathology, we struggle with encouraging candidates to enter our field. We’re trying to find new ways of engaging with medical students, and one way to do that is to support and encourage our trainees and junior doctors. Often, medical students will connect with registrars or residents to ask about their work, so we’re trying to ensure that they have the resources they need to enjoy and promote pathology. And it’s working; they’ve been great participants at our annual meeting – they’re doing an awesome job. Value your early-career pathologists, because they will encourage the next generation.

A number of years ago I led a CAP-ACP campaign, MyPathologist.ca, to reinforce the idea that pathologists stand with patients throughout their medical journey. Our patients are at home, anxiously awaiting their results, and it’s truly rewarding when we can help them on their medical journey. For the most part, the results are good news – but even when they aren’t, we provide the most up-to-date, accurate diagnosis to guide therapy. I want aspiring pathologists to know that I look forward to my cases – my patients – every day. It’s a real honor to open up the tray and wonder, “Who am I going to help today?”