Perspectives from a Pathologist: My Journey on the Path to Women's Health Research, Sex and Gender Policy, and Practice Implications

Abstract

These words reflect my recollections of major transition points in my life and career: as I first became dedicated to becoming a physician, being introduced to the field of pathology and research, and then transitioning to a somewhat different career focus by becoming the first director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women's Health. Many of the experiences that I gained during my years in pathology served me well as I made efforts to establish women's health research and sex and gender based studies as scientific endeavors. Participating in research and teaching as an academic pathologist, setting funding priorities, and supporting and encouraging research careers through governmental office programs have been the essence of my more than 50 years as a pathologist and physician.

Women in Academic Pathology: Pathways to Department Chair

“…6 Dr Vivian Pinn became the first black woman to chair a Department of Pathology in 1982 at Howard University, 6 and at that time Dr Pinn was only the third woman to have chaired a department of pathology in a coeducational medical school, 10 years after Dr Warner's appointment. 6 Initially, the large gender gap among pathology department chairs could be readily explained by the absence of significant numbers of women who became physicians and then specialized in pathology. However, despite an increased number of women who have entered and finished medical school, chosen pathology residencies and then entered academic pathology over the last 40 years, pathology continues to have inequitable gender representation among department chairs.…”

“…Academic departments of pathology have been integral to medical schools since before the turn of the 19th century, but there were no women chairs of these departments in a coeducational medical school until 1972 when Dr Nancy Warner became chair of pathology at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. 6 Dr Vivian Pinn became the first black woman to chair a Department of Pathology in 1982 at Howard University, 6 and at that time Dr Pinn was only the third woman to have chaired a department of pathology in a coeducational medical school, 10 years after Dr Warner's appointment. 6 Initially, the large gender gap among pathology department chairs could be readily explained by the absence of significant numbers of women who became physicians and then specialized in pathology.…”

Invention and Early History of Telepathology (1985-2000)

“…The First public demonstration of robotic-dynamic telepathology was staged in August 1986 in Washington, DC [Figure 3]. [3132] In 1987, Dr. Weinstein submitted his first US patent application for telepathology. Eventually, the US Patent and Trademark Office acknowledged that the Weinstein patent application was so rich in original ideas that it deserved to be divided into two patents (called a “divisional” patent), each titled “Telepathology Diagnostics Networks,” and issued in 1993 and 1994, respectively.…”

“…Vivian Pinn-Wiggins, MD, the Chair of Pathology at Howard Medical School is in the foreground. [3132] (d) NBC television newscaster reporting on the first national telepathology demonstration. Photos courtesy of R. S. Weinstein personal collection…”