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Resident Pathologist, Department of Pathology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA

Biggest challenge in pathology? Recruitment and visibility. I am still very young in my career, but I’ve seen many pathologists shy away from “the spotlight”. This is completely understandable – we typically work behind the scenes in the grand scheme of patient care. But, for many patients and other clinicians alike, this hides the genuine work we do and allows misconceptions of our roles in the “continuum of patient care” (as a mentor of mine would put it).

Additionally, we’re facing a critical shortage of pathologists worldwide, and if we do not do our part as an academic pathology community to meet the next generation where they are (ie, through social media and in the classroom), they will never set foot in a pathology lab and our labor shortages will worsen. Of course, this negatively impacts patient care, which is a risk we cannot take. We need to step outside our comfort zones (as much as our schedules allow) and give the next generation of physicians reasons to consider pursuing a career in pathology – whether it be practice logistics, lifework balance, compensation, etc – through presentations, rotations, and consistent professional online engagement. 

Exciting developments and trends? Digital pathology and the flexibility to work from home. When I entered medical school, I wasn’t sure which direction to take my career in. As I completed more courses and clinical rotations, I realized that the day-to-day routine of many medical and surgical fields was not my forte – mainly due to schedule rigidity. I noticed that I valued the flexibility when I practice, particularly in my daily schedule. 

Another major element that drew me into pathology was that my patients are on glass, whether through a microscope lens or digitalized via a computer screen. In the next few years I hope to become a father, which will make it crucial for me to be able to step away from my work at a moment's notice for family emergencies. As a healthcare employee, my family's well being is my priority and in most other fields, you aren't given the flexibility many parents and carers require – you must be with physical patients from dusk till dawn. As a pathologist, I’m able to see my “glass” patients and provide superior patient care at any hour of the day, while still being prompt in diagnostic turnaround times.

As digital pathology becomes more tried, tested, and true, it's only a matter of time until I can complete part of my clinical duties from home without compromising personal or professional obligations. As with any team-based organization, we must balance our onsite and at-home duties to maintain a sense of team camaraderie, trust, and high morale, especially as the digital age expands. But, anecdotally at least, a lot of medical students are looking for opportunities to work from home – so why isn’t our academic pathology community sharing more about the developments of digital pathology that allow for flexibility and remote working? We should also be training future pathologists from day one to be comfortable in using digital and computational pathology, which is undoubtedly where the field is heading. 

These trends are exciting, but we need to make more of an effort to embrace, highlight, and refine them to direct our field in the right direction. The next generation needs to see pathology as an attractive and competitive speciality for 21st Century medical students to consider pursuing it further down the road.

Professional ambitions? I’m content with my current position and the trajectory of my career, but I still thirst to strive and push myself with my work. While I have quite an open mind about the future, the notion of being a program director continues to enter the forefront. The thought of being a coach or mentor has always excited me, probably stemming from my love of football over the years. The next generation of pathologists will only be as good as those who take the time to show them the ropes and carve out their own paths. I could continue to sign out cases every day, but I fear that I will tire of this further down the road and I hope to avoid burnout as much as possible. 

One part of being a resident pathologist that brings me a lot of fulfillment is seeing the growth of my co-residents, co-fellows, and fellow medical students, which further ignites my ambition to become a program director in the future. Despite the demanding hours and level of commitment required, I’d love to foster a close, meaningful, and collegial relationship with my residency/fellowship team. These bonds through collaboration, education, and passion for pathology are pretty special, and I hope to be a part of it someday.