By - October 09, 2024
Savanah Gisriel, MD, MPH, knows that the diagnoses she makes every day have a lifelong impact on her patients. While the gravity of this responsibility is significant, Dr. Gisriel knows that by providing her undivided, focused, unbiased attention she is taking the best care she can of her patients.
Here, the 2024-2025 Chair of the ASCP Resident Council shares more about how fulfilling a career in pathology is, and more.
For hematopathology, the diagnoses are increasingly becoming molecular-based. Because of the high clinical demand for molecular information (for diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognostication), there are many cutting-edge molecular assays being quickly developed – with smaller sample size requirements, faster turnaround times, and more comprehensive panels. This fast evolution is very exciting to watch and be a part of. With more molecular information, I am better able to correlate what I am seeing morphologically, which makes me more comfortable with narrowing down challenging differentials. Additionally, automated cell screening technology is becoming more robust, streamlining the workup of urgent diagnoses.
As a pathologist, you have a unique perspective on disease diagnosis and patient care. How do you approach the responsibility of delivering accurate and timely diagnoses, knowing they have a significant impact on patient outcomes?
For me, having a steady routine and sticking to it is key. Every morning, I optimize my working environment (whether that means having a snack, listening to music, organizing my workspace, etc.) so I have a clear space to carefully and methodically work up each of my cases. For every case, I go through a mental checklist to ensure I am not forgetting to check for anything. If I am ever in doubt, I never hesitate to ask a colleague for their opinion – and if I am ever debating whether to order additional studies, it likely means that I should order them. While I strive to have the quickest turnaround time as possible, if there is any shred of doubt in my mind on the diagnosis, I wait to sign the case out until I have sufficient information to feel completely confident about the final report. I always remember one of my mentors from training telling me “I have never regretted not signing out a case.” This is a sound piece of advice that I will never forget.
I think the biggest challenge we face in the laboratory today is staffing shortages. There are three ways we can effectively address this problem: 1) increase awareness of the different jobs that exist in the laboratory by promoting these positions at career fairs, college campuses, etc. (and our ASCP Career and Pathology Ambassadors are hard at work to achieve this!), 2) increase compensation for these careers, and 3) showcase to stakeholders just how invaluable our laboratories are when it comes to personalized patient care. These strategies work hand-in-hand.
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