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

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.