No Regrets

What is the most challenging objective that you set for yourself to achieve during your time as President of RCPath? What progress has been made toward achieving it?

My key aim was to engage members so that they feel that they’re part of the College and that their views are sought and acted on. I’ve tried to do this by meeting as many members as possible, by keeping them up to date with what the College is doing on their behalf through e-newsletters, our printed Bulletin, social media and our website, and by encouraging them to contact me with their concerns and opinions, which I’ve represented to government and other policy makers. For example, I have raised concerns about aspects of the new contract for junior doctors that relate to research, less than full-time training and moving to pathology after gaining experience in another specialty. I and others have also campaigned for several years for independent medical examiners to scrutinize all deaths not referred to the coroner. The government has recently announced that medical examiners will be introduced in 2018. The College was also instrumental in having amendments made to the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill, which has just received Royal Assent. I have also made appointment to College posts more transparent, with all eligible members being given the opportunity to contribute.

You have placed a big focus on public engagement initiatives. Which have been most effective and why?

Without a doubt, National Pathology Week (NPW), which is held every November. Since it was introduced in 2008, thousands of events have been held, taking pathologists and scientists out of their labs and into their communities. Hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren, students and members of the public have learned about the importance of pathology to their health. We’ve found that the public are fascinated by what pathologists do and love to learn more about our central role in healthcare. NPW has been so successful that other countries have asked to join us and we now also hold an International Pathology Day every year, focusing on global health issues.

I have worked to strengthen the College’s parliamentary and stakeholder contacts since I came into post, meeting regularly with health ministers and establishing relationships with the Health Select Committee. During NPW in 2015, the chair of the health committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston, hosted an exhibition in Parliament organized and run by the College. It was staffed by pathologists to showcase the value of pathology in healthcare. About 50 members of parliament and a dozen peers visited the exhibition, including most members of the health committee and the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt.

The Virtual Autopsy has been one of the most engaging and popular activities during NPW. What are your thoughts on the worrying decline of the hospital autopsy?

They are an extremely valuable way to learn more about the progression of disease and its response to treatment. Reversing the trend will be difficult, but I believe it is important to strive to do so. Reform of the coronial autopsy service in England, which is currently being discussed, may help reverse the decline of hospital autopsies by ensuring that there are sufficient trained pathologists and appropriate facilities.

How can pathology be made more attractive to students?

The best way is by increasing students’ exposure to the specialty during their training. That is why the College has introduced an undergraduate membership category and co-hosts an annual summer school for students. We have also developed an undergraduate pathology curriculum to encourage medical schools to include core pathology knowledge in all students’ training. It is essential for pathologists to act as role models for students, demonstrating the range of career options and highlighting how fulfilling working in pathology can be.

You are the College’s second female President; do you feel that you had to work harder than your male colleagues to get to where you are?

It’s almost impossible to know how hard other people work – and some people are more efficient than others! I have certainly worked hard, but I doubt if I’ve worked any harder than my predecessors. I am extremely fortunate to have supportive family and colleagues who have enabled me to take on College roles for many years and who continue to support me while I’m President.

If you could go back and give yourself advice before you embarked on your career, what would you say?

I’ve loved my career and it’s a huge honor to be president of the College so I’m not sure there’s anything I’d change. I might tell my younger self that all the hard work would pay off, to make the years of long hours and endless exams a little easier. I would reassure my newly qualified self that pathology really was the career for me and that it would be even more interesting and enjoyable than I hoped when I first applied to enter the specialty. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the support, opportunities, role models and colleagues that I’ve had over the years. I’ve also still got many years to work, so my career will be far from over (I hope) when I demit office at the end of 2017. So I may still need that advice from my older self – perhaps ask me again in a decade!