Original articles

Vol. 118: Issue 2 - April 2026

Digitalization and Gamification to Improve Pathology Education: The SIAPeC Quiz Experience

Authors

Alessandro Caputo , Luca Cima , Vincenzo L'Imperio , Giuseppe Alecci , Andrea Ascione , Mattia Facchetti , Özgür Can Eren , Brett Baskovich , Kamran M. Mirza , Michael Bonert , Guido Fadda , Filippo Fraggetta

Keywords: gamification, technology-enhanced learning, pathology education, medical training, educational innovation
DOI: 10.32074/1591-951X-N980
Publication Date: 2026-05-13

Summary

Pathology education is evolving beyond traditional textbooks and increasingly embracing digital and active learning tools. While passive methods of teaching such as lectures remain dominant, active learning approaches-such as case-based learning, gamification, and technology-enhanced education-are on the rise. Tools like digital microscopy, social media, and resources such as Libre Pathology and pathCast are democratizing access to knowledge, fostering interactivity and accessibility.

Quizzes and gaming events have become essential tools in medicine, enhancing learner engagement, honing diagnostic skills, and promoting collaborative learning. Notable examples in pathology include the ESP Pathology Progress Test, the RCPath International Pathology Day Quiz, and interactive events like the ISDP Dermatopathology Olympic Games. Gamification not only boosts motivation but also facilitates the practical application of real-world skills. These innovations are particularly impactful in pathology, where simulated diagnostic challenges offer realistic learning experiences.

The inaugural SIAPeC Quiz (2024) demonstrated the efficacy of gamification in pathology education, combining interactive case-based challenges with digital tools to enhance diagnostic skills and engagement among junior pathologists. Featuring a diverse range of questions across histology, pathology, and subspecialties, the event incorporated whole-slide images and challenges that push the boundaries of what can be understood from minimal information (#TooCloseToDiagnose and #TooFarToDiagnose). This gamified format created a supportive environment for learners to experiment and learn from mistakes, fostering critical skills in a dynamic setting.

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Authors

Alessandro Caputo - Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy; Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Salerno, Salerno, Italy

Luca Cima - Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona

Vincenzo L'Imperio - Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9284-2998

Giuseppe Alecci - Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (ProMISE), Pathology Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7328-8074

Andrea Ascione - Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4253-3193

Mattia Facchetti - Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2605-101X

Özgür Can Eren - Department of Pathology, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

Brett Baskovich - Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health Systems, New York, NY, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4707-1984

Kamran M. Mirza - Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4856-1996

Michael Bonert - Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Division of Anatomical Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5049-0189

Guido Fadda - Department of Human Pathology of adulthood and childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9736-0544

Filippo Fraggetta - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, ASP Catania, Catania, Italy

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright

Copyright (c) 2026 Società Italiana di Anatomia Patologica e Citopatologia Diagnostica, Divisione Italiana della International Academy of Pathology

How to Cite
Caputo, A., Cima, L., L’Imperio, V., Alecci, G., Ascione, A., Facchetti, M., Eren, Özgür C., Baskovich, B., Mirza, K. M., Bonert, M., Fadda, G., & Fraggetta, F. (2026). Digitalization and Gamification to Improve Pathology Education: The SIAPeC Quiz Experience. Pathologica - Journal of the Italian Society of Anatomic Pathology and Diagnostic Cytopathology, 118(2). https://doi.org/10.32074/1591-951X-N980
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