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Senior Consultant of Anatomical Pathology, Karkinos Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, Navi Mumbai, India

Missing from the diagnostic toolbox? In India, pathology training is largely limited to laboratory-related work. Many mentors at institutes “shed the clinician tag” and consider themselves part of support or ancillary services. The presence of Clinico-Pathological-Correlation (CPC) meetings and Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDT) during training are largely restricted to larger institutes, and the net output at the end of the training is a “laboratory personnel”, not a “clinician”. I believe “clinical judgment” is certainly missing in diagnostic reports.

Professional ambitions? I hope to work in an institute with the perfect blend of service, education, and research.

Attracting talent… Like myself, many pathologists have mentors and role models that inspired us, but many of these wonderful figures only entered our lives after joining the field. When comparing pathology with other medical school subjects (especially clinical subjects), I feel students tend to choose clinical branches because their heroes and role models (physicians and surgeons) are clearly displayed in front of them, alleviating pain in clinics and saving lives in operation theaters. 

Similarly to the film industry (where directors are crucial to the success of a film and actors tend to take the majority of the limelight), we should be pushing pathology role models out from behind the curtain. I also believe that the pathology we practice is more engaging than what we learn in medical school, which can feel bookish and mundane. We should strive to make it more practical and interesting.