The History of the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants and of a Profession Built the Hard Way

Reilly, Thomas L.; Eckman, John

doi:10.5858/arpa.2019-0141-le

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“…Because of this, many pathologists were uncomfortable with the idea that PAs were being trained to perform tasks that, up until this time, had been performed exclusively by pathologists or pathology residents. 2,6,7 However, the highly protective stance that only physicians could perform anatomical pathology tasks is perhaps less surprising when one remembers the critical importance this work played in establishing their own profession in the 1920s. 8,9 It should also be remembered that the ASCP was established in 1922 because hospital-based clinical laboratories were rapidly losing ground to “mail order” commercial laboratories and were, according to ASCP founders, 5,10 believed to be well on their way to extinction.…”

Section: Historical Obstacles To Overcome: Hurdles To Clearmentioning

confidence: 99%

A History of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants: Creating an Organization, Winning Hearts and Minds, and Building an Invaluable Profession

Reilly¹,

Wright

2020

Academic Pathology

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Thomas D. Kinney and Duke University started the first formal university-based training program for pathologists’ assistants in 1969. Over the next 2 years, 2 more university-based programs were established. All 3 programs were affiliated with nearby Veterans Administration Hospitals and were funded as a pilot study by the US Veterans Administration to address a looming shortage of pathologists. Early graduates of these programs discovered that the concept of pathologists’ assistants with well-defined skill sets encompassing both surgical and autopsy pathology was not initially accepted by important elements of organized pathology. Indeed, many academic pathologists were opposed to the concept from the outset. In the face of such opposition, a group of practicing pathologists’ assistants created and incorporated their own professional organization, the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants, to provide support, advocacy, and continuing education for individual practicing pathologists’ assistants. The history of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants and its role in the establishment and success of the pathologists’ assistant profession are described utilizing personal communications as well as published historical sources.

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