Why Choose a Pathology Career?

Abstract

Context.— There is a global decline in medical graduates pursuing pathology careers, resulting in a broadening gap between workforce demand and supply. Objective.— To determine causes of low popularity of pathology as a career and develop strategies to avoid a workforce crisis. Design.— An online survey was distributed and yielded 1247 responses, including 609 Australian medical students from 10 medical schools, 119 prevocational doctors from 10 major teaching hospitals in New South Wales, 175 residents, and 344 pathologists throughout Australia. Results.— Compared with pathology-uninterested peers, students and prevocational doctors interested in pathology careers were more likely to value research opportunities (57 of 166 [34.3%] pathology-interested respondents versus 112 of 521 [21.5%] pathology-uninterested respondents; odds ratio [OR] = 1.91, P < .001), have children (19 of 165 respondents [11.5%] versus 22 of 522 respondents [4.2%]; OR = 2.96, P < .001), and self-identify as introverted (87 of 167 respondents [52.1%] versus 179 of 526 respondents [34%]; OR = 2.1, P < .001). Those uninterested in pathology were more likely to value patient interaction (363 of 524 respondents [69.3%] versus 71 of 166 respondents [42.8%]; OR = 3.02, P < .001). Lack of exposure to pathology was the most-cited reason for rejecting pathology (after lack of patient interaction). There was poor understanding of the role of pathologists and low confidence in the ability to interpret histopathology reports among medical students and prevocational doctors. Negative stereotypes regarding pathologists were identified. Conclusions.— Active interventions increasing exposure of medical students and prevocational doctors to pathology as a career, as well as promotion of research opportunities and potential for work–life balance, are needed to address pending workforce shortages.

Pathology skills lab: use of macroscopic tumor models in pathology teaching

“…Medical school education provides an excellent opportunity to expose future health care professionals to the content and day-to-day practice of the specialty. This is critical, as one of the most commonly cited reasons in surveys for not choosing pathology as a specialty is lack of exposure and knowledge of the subject matter among medical students [ 3 ]. Factors that influence specialty choice among current students include interest in the field, intellectual challenge, work-life balance, career opportunities, professional standards, workplace atmosphere, and workplace prestige [ 14 , 16 ].…”

“…By 2022, approximately 60% of practicing pathologists were 50 years of age and older [ 2 ]. Studies have shown that medical students often overlook a career in pathology due to a lack of interest and understanding of the subject matter [ 3 ]. Medical education offers the opportunity to inspire future generations of medical students for the subject of pathology in all its variety.…”

Quality-checking the new normal: trial modality in online jury decision-making research

“…The pathologist also elicited less favorable perceptions in the video as compared to in the transcript. These differences also likely reflect the acting choices made by the actor, who properly reflected the delivery that such testimony would likely entail, particularly given that pathologists and those medical students interested in pathology are more likely to identify as introverted (Fielder et al, 2022 ). There were some significant differences as a function of defendant race, such that both the police officer and the prosecutor yielded more positive perceptions when the defendant was White, while the defense yielded more positive perceptions when the defendant was Black.…”

Modernizing Forensic Pathology Education on TikTok: Lessons Learned on this “Social Media Frontier”

“…13 Despite efforts to integrate pathology into undergraduate medical education curriculum and create pipelines into pathology, there are nearly 1% of medical students going into pathology with many students citing misinformation about pathology careers/ the job market as dissuading. [14][15][16][17] Thus, TikTok can be a useful tool to show future pathologists the realities of forensics and pathology while also being an accessible point of contact for questions. These young users are likely to initiate communication with content creators through comments and direct messages.…”

“…A recent study by Holloman et al found that over half of medical students who responded to the survey used social media to research pathology, with a minority stating that the information they found to be encouraging 13 . Despite efforts to integrate pathology into undergraduate medical education curriculum and create pipelines into pathology, there are nearly 1% of medical students going into pathology with many students citing misinformation about pathology careers/the job market as dissuading 14–17 . Thus, TikTok can be a useful tool to show future pathologists the realities of forensics and pathology while also being an accessible point of contact for questions.…”