Walk in the Woods--The Road to Master's Cytology Practitioner

As the Cytotechnology Program Review Committee (CPRC) shared its intent to transition all undergraduate and certificate training programs to a Master's degree curriculum by 2022, mixed opinions have been expressed by various stakeholders from the larger pathology and allied health communities. In order to build a consensus path forward, a framework entitled "Walk in the Woods," an international diplomacy approach, is described. Unlike many problem-solving approaches which directly identify a problem and potential solutions, this approach is a four-step process which includes: (1) self-interest, (2) enlarged interest, (3) enlightened interest, and (4) aligning interest; each step builds on the preceding step. While four steps may take longer than the traditional "problem to solution" paradigm, the purpose of each step is to increase transparency and clarity in a complex multiparty negotiation, such as the path forward for cytotechnology. This commentary demonstrates, in a step-by-step manner, how a "Walk in the Woods" can aid in the facilitation of the transition of the cytology degree to an entry-level Master's degree curriculum and evidence- and interest-based negotiation approach.