The world of pathology is often considered a hidden one. Pathologists work in a laboratory and do not interact as frequently with patients as do primary care physicians.
Through her volunteer work as an ASCP Pathology Ambassador, pathology resident Mehrnoosh Ghandili, MD, is trying to change that. She has the opportunity to pair up with medical students rotating in her pathology department at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, NC.
It’s an eye-opening experience for the medical students as most have never observed the inner workings of a pathology department before.
Dr. Ghandili introduces the medical students to each section of the pathology department that she and the medical students are rotating together. The students see how a specific lab section works on a daily basis and learn about the roles of each individual working in the laboratory. She talks about how pathologists interact with other specialties, and how the medical students’ specialty-of-interest would connect to pathology in a certain way.
The most exciting part is hands-on experiments under supervision when they feel more comfortable. Mini lectures are the basis of most conversations, from introducing a laboratory instrument to discussing the pathophysiology of a condition during a hands-on experiment.
“The ASCP Pathology Ambassador program connects people with the same interest,” she explains. “It not only helps with expanding your professional network, but it also helps to share new ideas on how to get involved.
“The pathology world has always been like a magic box to the crowd and even for medical professionals who are not directly involved, Dr. Ghandili adds. “All these engagements, presentations, and encounters are like walking the audience through all the steps, from the beginning to the end of a process, and uncovering the mystery. And actually, I think that is when they get interested in the field and notice its importance!”
As a pathology resident who is interested in academia, Dr. Ghandili has discovered that finding ways to engage her audience is a learning curve for her. From in-person to virtual presentations, she has realized the best way to connect to the vast majority of the audience with different levels of education is to keep it simple.
“Pathology is the world of colors, shapes, and patterns. I use it to my advantage by sharing pictures to simplify complex concepts,” she adds.
She has found ASCP to be supportive as she first got started in the Pathology Ambassadors program. The Society provides the Ambassadors a list of activities to start with, as well as links to join the social media accounts representing the ASCP Pathology Ambassadors so they can connect, and share ideas and best practices.
Overall, the experience has been invaluable to Dr. Ghandili, as well as the medical students she has mentored. “By becoming a Pathology Ambassador, you challenge yourself, your knowledge, and your skills in teaching, presenting, and communicating with people in a variety of educational levels and occupations. It’s a learning opportunity while you are teaching others!”
Curious about the Pathology Ambassadors program? Get involved by clicking
here.
