Publicizing pathology remains one of the discipline’s greatest challenges. Many pathologists agree that it’s important to teach the general public what the “people behind the microscopes” actually do, but fewer seem clear on how to accomplish this. And fewer still are targeting the people for whom this kind of education would be most useful: the patients themselves. With a constantly growing, constantly aging population, pathologists are processing more diagnoses than ever – so why not step out from behind the microscope and speak directly to those patients? Marc Rosenblum, director of neuropathology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, spoke to us about his experiences with patient interaction.
- Patients are often unaware of the role pathology plays in their care, and most lack the opportunity to speak directly to pathologists
- Hospitals and clinicians should make patients aware of expert pathology services as they would any other patient care asset
- Pathologists themselves should consider it a professional obligation to interact with patients who wish to discuss their diagnostic findings
- Communicating with patients allows them to better understand their diagnosis and the care they receive, and allows pathology to become better recognized
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