The Essential Role of Pathologists in Health Care and Health Policy

In the June 2011 edition of CAP Today, then-College of American Pathologists (CAP) President Stephen N. Bauer, MD, authored an article titled ‘‘50 Ways to Leave the Basement.’’ In addition to challenging pathologists and laboratory professionals to redefine pathology for our clinical colleagues, patients, and the public, the article provided specific examples of how to do so. One particular line stands out: ‘‘To secure our place in the evolving landscape, we must become aggressive intellectual and economic capitalists.’’ Aggressive, one might say, is too strong or that it connotes adversarial undertones, but aggressive we must become, as we calmly and confidently guide a detailed, well-informed dialogue highlighting our critical role in patient care. We are physicians after all, having been educated alongside colleagues who went on to become internists, neurosurgeons, and radiologists to name a few. However, legislators, clinicians, and patients are often unclear on the role of pathology as a specialty and our ability to direct cost-effective, quality care by merging diagnostic skills with guidance on ancillary testing and patient management. Similarly, as pathologists, we are often unaware of the potential effect we can and should have on the changing face of medicine. We can accomplish our collective goals and take an active stand in the evolution of health care by focusing on 3 primary objectives—that is, to educate, to motivate, and to cultivate. This article will focus on applying those objectives within the arena of health care policy.