Positive Job Search Experience for New Pathologists Seeking First Employment Between 2017-2019

Transitioning From Trainee to Practicing Pathologist: A Prospective Multi-institutional Survey of the Challenges Early Career Anatomic Pathologists Encounter When Entering Independent Practice

CONTEXT.—

Pathology training programs generally prepare graduates well for the workforce, but there may be other aspects to navigating a job that make the transition from being a trainee to a practicing pathologist challenging.

OBJECTIVE.—

To identify perceived challenges of independent practice for early career pathologists and assess how these impressions evolve throughout their first year.

DESIGN.—

A survey was distributed to 12 anatomic pathology fellows from 4 institutions near the end of their final training year, and 6 months and 1 year after starting their first job. The surveys queried participants' comfort level with signing out cases independently and interacting with colleagues/trainees via Likert attitude scale questions, with free-text segments to elaborate on challenges experienced.

RESULTS.—

The response rate to all 3 surveys was 100%. Confidence and comfort level with different aspects of independent sign-out increased incrementally over time. Main challenges encountered at 6 months included a high case load, signing out cases in areas outside of their subspecialty, time management, balancing teaching while signing out, laboratory issues, and developing relationships with clinicians. At 12 months, main challenges included time management, high case load, understaffing, laboratory issues, and signing out cases in areas outside of their subspecialty.

CONCLUSIONS.—

This study identified real-time challenges faced by those adjusting to their first year of independent practice. By gaining a better understanding of the factors that make this transition challenging, we can find tailored ways to support our early career pathologists.

Job market in head and neck surgery: A survey and analysis of recent fellowship graduates

OBJECTIVE

Recent years have seen increase in individuals pursuing postgraduate fellowships in head and neck (HN) surgery. This has presented concerns about insufficient jobs where graduates can apply their scope of specialized training.

METHODS

Data was collected in two manners- a survey and a manual online search of American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) fellowship graduates. A 25-question survey was sent in 2021 to approximately 400 HN fellows who graduated between 2010 and 2020. The AHNS list of graduates from the same years were searched online to collect information including gender, graduation year, fellowship training, and current job practice.

RESULTS

Of the 78 survey responses, 64.1 % were male and 34.6 % female. 96.2 % reported ablative, 84.6 % microvascular, and 82.1 % TORS training. Mean number of interviews was 4 with most interviewing during the 3rd quarter (January to March). Majority reported being in academic and university-based practices (79.6 %). Online search was done on 393 graduates. Since 2010 the number of graduates almost doubled. There was a statistically significant increase in females by year (p = 0.022). There was a significant decrease (p = 0.022) in graduates with additional fellowship training from that of their AHNS fellowship. There was also a statistically significant increase in graduates being in academic practices (p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

Despite growing numbers, there appears to be more graduates entering an academic practice, although the definition of an academic HN practice may be evolving. These results provide guidance on how to approach the job search in a select market.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Measuring the Efficacy of Pathology Career Recruitment Strategies in US Medical Students

CONTEXT.—

Multiple articles and surveys in the literature suggest that medical students find a career in pathology undesirable and believe it is disproportionately focused primarily on the autopsy.

OBJECTIVE.—

To measure the effect of applied interventions on medical student attitudes about the field of pathology.

DESIGN.—

This prospective study involving medical students from first through fourth year was conducted as a pilot study in 2 medical schools in the United States. A 2-part anonymous survey regarding interest in pathology as a career and familiarity with the specialty using a 10-point scale was given to first- and second-year medical students before and after they listened to a 10-minute pathology career presentation. The same survey was given to third- and fourth-year medical students before and after a 4-week pathology elective.

RESULTS.—

A total of 121 and 83 students responded to the survey before and after the intervention, respectively. Of the 121 students who responded to the survey before the intervention, 106 (87.6%) had not spent significant time in a pathology laboratory before the intervention. The majority of responses in interest in career, job responsibilities, and features of pathologists before and after the intervention demonstrated a statistically significant difference (P < .001). We compared survey scores of presentation versus 4-week rotation groups before and after the intervention. Students who experienced the presentation did not differ from students who experienced the rotation in the majority of questions related to interest in career, job responsibilities, and features of pathologists.

CONCLUSIONS.—

Our study suggests that pathology exposure strategies can have a beneficial effect on student perceptions of the field and consideration of a career in pathology. Overall, the presentation intervention on the first- and second-year students seemed to have the greatest effect.