Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Main Content Skip to Footer
search play2 play3 facebook twitter linkedin2 cross
ASCP
  • DASHBOARD
  • STORE
  • LOGOUT
  • STORE
  • LOGIN
Menu
  • My Role
  • Membership
  • Learning
  • Get Involved
  • Careers
  • About ASCP
  • Board of Certification
  • News
  • News
  • News Archive
  • Groups
  • Jobs
  • ASCP
  • News Archive
  • News Detail

ASCP 2019: Perception is Reality: Exploring the Myth of ‘Dr. Death’ and the Pathologist

Publication Date: Aug 16, 2019

Crime-fighting heroes—like the fictional Quincy, M.E. in the 1980s TV medical mystery drama, where they solve crimes? Creepy characters of schlocky horror films? Or, real-life shadowy figures like Dr. Kevorkian?

The fields of pathology and laboratory medicine are often maligned and misunderstood, with pathologists and laboratory professionals generally stereotyped as cold, detached, and solitary figures hunkered down in their laboratory with bad music playing in the background. But we know what who we are; it’s our field. In the lab, we really do not work in isolation, but are in frequent communication with other healthcare workers and laboratory personnel as we solve diagnostic problems. Our role in patient care is significant.

So what exactly does the general public think of pathologists and laboratory professionals?

Matthew A. Zarka, MD, and Emily Zarka, PhD, will address this perception in their ASCP 2019 Annual Meeting session, "Perception is Reality: Exploring the Myth of ‘Dr. Death’ and the Pathologist," at 6:20 p.m. on Thursday, September 12 in Phoenix. The pair will present an overview of the complex history of representations of pathologists, cytotechnologists and medical laboratory professionals, breaking down fact from fiction.

In this dynamic lecture, the pair will discuss common controversial portrayals of pathologists in the media. Dr. Matthew Zarka will provide the professional medical opinion, examining his own experiences in comparison to portrayals of the profession in popular media. In counterpoint, Dr. Emily Zarka will offer the humanities perspective, advancing insight into how narratives of physicians are disseminated and reinforced in the public imagination.

There is fiction, and there is reality. Together, Drs. Matthew and Emily Zarka represent the potential for collaboration between the sciences and the humanities, with the overall goal of improving the exchange of information between professional and public audiences and clearing away the fog of misunderstanding.

Learn more about education sessions at ASCP 2019 Annual Meeting here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • My Role
    • Pathologist
    • Resident
    • Lab Professional
    • Program Directors
    • Student
  • Membership
    • Renew Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Get Involved
    • Rewards
    • Member Center
  • Learning
    • Certificate Programs
    • Attend Meetings
    • Explore Books and Journals
    • Continuous Quality Improvement & Quality Assurance
    • Access My Education
    • ACCME
    • CC Resources
    • CMP Resources
    • ASCPedia
    • Featured Education
    • Immuno-Oncology
    • ASCP Annual Meeting
    • ASCP Virtual Town Hall Series
    • Inside the Lab
  • Get Involved
    • Get Recognized
    • Receive Awards
    • Serve Your Community
    • Center for Global Health
    • Serve Your Profession
    • Partners in Cancer Diagnosis
    • Institute for Science Technology & Public Policy
    • Choosing Wisely
    • Patient Champions
    • Discover Opportunities
    • Apply to Volunteer
    • Ambassadors
    • ASCP Mentorship Program
  • Careers
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Learn About Careers
    • Discover Fellowships
    • Work at ASCP
  • About ASCP
    • Our Mission
    • Supporting Our Members
    • Our Community Efforts
    • ASCP Foundation
    • Contact ASCP
    • Media Relations
  • Board of Certification
    • Get Credentialed
    • Stay Credentialed
    • Verify Credentials
    • Program Directors
    • About BOC
    • Apply Now/Check Status/Update Info
    • Manage Your BOC Account
    • Declaration & Complete CMP
  • News
    • ePolicy News
Chicago (Headquarters)
33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603

Privacy Policy 

Terms of Use

Follow Us

Copyright ©2021 by American Society for Clinical Pathology. All Rights Reserved.