Abstract
Background: Globally and nationally, there has been a significant decline in the proportion of medical graduates pursuing a career in pathology, corresponding with a broadening gap between workforce supply and demand. However, there is a paucity of evidence as to the causal influences in an Australian context. Aims: To perform an online survey of Australian medical students and junior medical officers, pathology trainees and pathologists to determine the factors which attract and deter graduates from pursuing a career in anatomical pathology. Methods: Literature review was performed to identify: (1) the factors that influence the choice of speciality for medical graduates; (2) the perceptions about anatomic pathology amongst medical graduates; (3) the influence of the delivery of pathology curriculum during medical school on these perceptions and reasons; and (4) the views of pathologists and pathology trainees regarding motivations for pursuing pathology training and career satisfaction. A short online survey including questions with binary answers, response spectrums and free text was circulated to medical students (via universities), pre-vocational junior medical officers (JMOs; via JMO units), pathology registrars and pathologists (via the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia). Results and conclusions: PubMed searches using the terms ‘pathology’, ‘training’ and ‘career choice’ identified over 200 peer reviewed indexed articles in English language; 15 pertained specifically to factors determining anatomical pathology as a career choice, and one of these was Australian. This review guided the development of specific questions related to factors identified as influencing the choice of pathology as a career (for example, personality traits, expectations regarding remuneration, research opportunities and career satisfaction, and exposure to pathology during university). The questionnaire is currently being circulated and the responses will be collated and analysed, in order to inform future recruitment strategies improving uptake to this vital but undersubscribed specialty.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
