 |
| The Pathology Interest Group received a $500 award from the College of American Pathologists to further its mission. |
The Pathology Interest Group (PAIG) at the Whiddon College of Medicine recently received the Sparking Interest in Pathology Award from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation. The $500 award is intended to support projects and initiatives that introduce, educate and inspire medical students to pursue a career in pathology.
Founded in fall 2022, the student interest group now has 39 members – a significant number for a medical school of its size. Two of the members are interviewing in pathology in the residency match process, and eight members have expressed commitment to matching in pathology in the next three cycles.
 |
Emily Hartsell and Walker Phillips attended a reception at CAP23. Reflecting the reception's theme, they wore Mardi Gras beads to represent Mobile culture. |
Emily Hartsell, co-founder and vice president of PAIG, intends to match in pathology in two years. She applied for the CAP Foundation award on behalf of the student interest group.
“As with many medical schools, there are no mandatory clinical rotations in pathology at the Whiddon College of Medicine,” Hartsell said. “Students interested in pathology have the option to take a four-week selective during third year. However, prior to PAIG, there were no student-led initiatives to make medical students aware of this opportunity or the field at large.”
PAIG has four primary objectives: to raise awareness about the field of pathology among the medical student body; to expose PAIG members to the diverse career opportunities within the field; to connect medical students with the department of pathology at USA Health; and to provide residency application-building and career development opportunities such as shadowing, research and networking.
“I am very impressed with the high level of interest and commitment our medical students have in exploring and learning about pathology as a career field in medicine,” said Thuy Phung, M.D., Ph.D., faculty advisor for the Pathology Interest Group and a professor of pathology at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “The students have worked diligently to build a vibrant program to expose PAIG members and the medical student body at large to the field of pathology. All of the pathology-related activities have been initiated by the medical students, and their efforts have paid off.”
Among the current initiatives, PAIG students and pathology faculty are collaborating to develop a streamlined program for first- and second-year medical students to shadow pathologists in anatomic pathology and clinical pathology, including subspecialized areas in molecular pathology, molecular microbiology and blood banking.
For example, students are working with Mohammad Barouqa, M.D., assistant professor of pathology and director of the blood bank at USA Health. They have submitted an abstract of their research project to the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists for the academy’s annual meeting in June.
In addition, PAIG students are collaborating with Phung, who serves as director of molecular genetic pathology and dermatopathology, and other pathologists at USA Health on a number of research projects; they have submitted two abstracts for CAP24, the organization’s annual meeting in October.
“Two of our members were able to attend CAP23 and were delighted to meet fellow students, residents, attendings, and pathologists on alternative career paths,” Hartsell said. “We hope to continue sending medical students to CAP every year.”
As the philanthropic arm of the
College of American Pathologists, the
CAP Foundation fosters the next generation of pathology leaders and provides quality care to underserved communities. For over 50 years, the foundation has awarded millions of dollars to support pathology education, research and training.
