Shortage of Pathologists: a candid narrative

Dear Editor,

after a long, distinguished and lucky career as a Pathologist I think back to my first experiences and to the reasons of this professional choice. After graduation in the 1970s, I was looking for a graduate school. I was attracted by the classic fields like Internal Medicine, Pneumology or Infectious Diseases. While I was looking around, I had the opportunity to be introduced to the Director of the Department of Pathology of the largest General Hospital, in Milan. After some weeks the unique cultural atmosphere inside the laboratories and the wonderful travels at the microscope won me over. No anxiety, no fears, no concerns about earnings. I loved Herasmus of Rotterdam. In its “Praise of Folly” he wrote “The only certain fact is that without the seasoning of madness, pleasure cannot exist” ¹. The choice was made. And Pathology proved itself a fiery and ever-changing lover. Probably no other specialties have the two-fold characteristics of being the most ancient and the most modern discipline in the same time. In the Pandora’s jar of Pathology, you can find a world of sub-fields, a world of techniques such as electron microscopy, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, molecular pathology and new cutting-edge sciences based on artificial intelligence (AI). Now I put aside the superfluous memories of an old man and I get to the point. Why is this evergreen discipline underappreciated by recent graduates? A number of vacant positions in medical residency programs are the sad constant in many schools in spite of the efforts of some enlightened spirits who try in vain to highlight the positive aspects of this profession during the degree course.