The phenotype of pathology residency program directors

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology
• Graduate Medical Education Leadership

Background:

• Pathology residency programs exhibit significant variation nationwide.
• The career pathways and demographic
• phenotype
• of pathology program directors (PDs) are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dominant phenotypes and career pathways for pathology residency program directors.
• To identify trends in the demographics, subspecialties, and prior experiences of PDs, former PDs (FPDs), and associate PDs (APDs).

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to PDs, FPDs, and APDs across the United States.
• Data analysis included descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of qualitative feedback regarding selection criteria.

Main Results:

• Respondents were predominantly White (76%) and female (70%), with many being junior faculty (57% <10 years in practice).
• Common subspecialties included cytopathology (25%), transfusion medicine (16%), and hematopathology (14%). A majority (62%) were on a non-tenure track.
• Most PDs had served as chief residents (65%) or APDs (61%) previously, but 65% lacked formal education leadership training.

Conclusions:

• The study identifies key demographic and professional trends among pathology PDs, highlighting a non-tenure track prevalence and common subspecialty focuses.
• Aspiring PDs may benefit from pursuing specific training, while departments should consider qualities like educational passion and emotional intelligence in selection.
• This data can inform training programs and guide leadership development within pathology graduate medical education.