Dana Powell Baker
Manager, Academic Partnerships, The Association of Public Health Laboratories, USA; President, Society of Black Pathology
Exciting developments and trends? I am very excited to see the increased use of virtual reality (VR) in pathology and laboratory medicine education! I love all things simulation and interprofessional education; therefore, I find the use of VR to simulate testing procedures to be an innovative approach to support the clinical training of students and trainees. These types of simulation activities have been attributed to increased clinical competency and strengthening technical skills among participants while improving patient safety. I’ve been able to see the increased use of VR in medical and public health laboratory settings for specific procedural training purposes, which has been phenomenal. I am eager to see how VR continues to evolve in our field and beyond!
Biggest challenge in pathology? One of the biggest challenges facing the pathology field is the lack of visibility and awareness of this workforce. Generally speaking, I encounter people who have not heard of pathology as an essential healthcare field. For this reason, the profession continues to be hidden in the shadows of healthcare and is not as well recognized as other healthcare fields, such as nursing. I hope this will change someday when patients and our communities at large will be familiar with the contributions of pathology and laboratory medicine to their health and well-being.
Controversial opinion? I believe working in patient care with a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) lens and enhanced cultural competency is crucial. As we see a growing number of states and institutions take a stance against DEI, I am one who continues to champion the importance of DEIAB (accessibility and belonging are vital) in our field. Healthcare disparities continue to persist across underrepresented and historically marginalized patient populations. There is so much work to be done to ensure equitable access to lifesaving healthcare services, including access to quality laboratory testing, that it necessitates continued support for DEIAB in our collective work.
