Factors Influencing US Allopathic Medical Students to Choose Pathology as a Specialty

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of pathologists in the health care system at a time of significant decline in the number of US medical students matching to pathology residency positions. To understand this decline, a national survey of fourth-year US allopathic medical students was conducted to assess experiences, knowledge, and attitudes of pathology and factors that impact specialty choice. Participating in a separate pathology course did not increase the probability of choosing pathology. Experiences significantly associated with choosing pathology included clinical or research opportunities in pathology during the last 2 years of medical school, autopsy observation/participation, and participation in pathology interest groups. Many respondents felt they were not sufficiently exposed to pathology to consider it as a specialty. Those who considered pathology but did not choose it were less likely to report understanding the activities of pathologists and being recruited by pathology faculty and more likely to express a preference for more direct patient contact as compared to those entering pathology. In general, respondents agreed that pathology has a good work–life balance and a satisfying degree of intellectual challenge. On the other hand, respondents generally agreed that information on social media and perception of the pathology job market do not seem to be positive and few agreed that pathology is a highly regarded specialty. We identify steps to address these issues and increase the number of US medical students choosing pathology as a specialty crucial to the future of medicine and public health.

Perception of The Teaching of Pathological Anatomy by Students of The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Lomé, Togo 

“…A relatively acceptable proportion (50.4%) of the participants had general satisfaction with the teaching of Pathological Anatomy, with a relationship between the degree of satisfaction with the teaching and the year of study (p 0.037). This level of satisfaction is comparable to that of studies in developed countries [5,10,11]. One of the major problems with Pathological Anatomy remains its lack of visibility and its ignorance by students.…”

Factors influencing US osteopathic medical students to choose pathology as a specialty

“…Between 2011 and 2021, the number of US allopathic seniors matching in pathology declined from 267 (1.7% of all graduates) to 198 (1.1%), and between the years 1986 and 2020, the percentage of US Seniors matching to pathology programs ranged from a high of 2.4% to a low of 0.9%. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 Pathology in particular matches fewer US medical graduates than other specialties. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 There is on-going concern for maintaining an adequate number of practicing pathologists to meet the needs of the US healthcare system, and how best to plan for an optimal workforce.…”

“… 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 Pathology in particular matches fewer US medical graduates than other specialties. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 There is on-going concern for maintaining an adequate number of practicing pathologists to meet the needs of the US healthcare system, and how best to plan for an optimal workforce. 7 , 8 , 9 …”

Factors and Determinants of Choosing Pathology as a Future Career: Results From a Multi-Institution Study

“…Further analyses showed that higher percentages of younger students and those in the first two years of medical school are more interested in pathology than the senior medical students. The invisibility of pathology from the curriculum beyond the second year of undergraduate medical education and the lack of public knowledge about pathology was reported to may have an influence on the popularity of pathology [ 27 - 28 ]. To counter the ever-diminishing interest in pathology, many universities around the world have created post-second-year fellowships or intercalating years where students are given the opportunity to explore more courses in pathology to increase the uptake of pathology as a future career.…”