CAP@Your Service – Residents Issue – Fall 2008

The CAP is launching a historic and unprecedented campaign, targeting pathology residents as one of its most important audiences.

Called “Transformation of the Specialty of Pathology,” this CAP effort is a multifaceted, sustained campaign and over time will include new practice standards development, benchmarking research, advocacy, education, self assessment modules, certificate programs, practicums, diagnostic and practice management tools, mentoring programs, collegial events involving pathologists and other physicians, and more.

During the Fall Residents Forum, CAP Junior Members heard first-hand from CAP leaders about the latest details of this campaign including: 1) Why transformation is needed; 2) What the CAP has planned to help pathologists transform; and 3) What you can do today to be part of the campaign.

The call for transformation has never been more compelling. As all of medicine continues to evolve, the pathologists’ preventive, diagnostic, and prognostic role has the unique opportunity to become more relevant than ever before.

Now is the time to embrace transformation, pursue new roles in the workplace, and become part of the clinical care team. Transformation of our specialty is going to be terrific for us, our clinical colleagues, and, most of all, for our patients. The CAP is leading the way with a plan to help you make this happen.

CAP Junior Members were encouraged specifically to:

1. Embrace the change curve – there is no generation for which this is more critical
2. Understand that your value is beyond diagnosis and should also center on influencing prognosis and treatment
3. Go see patients, review charts, and talk to attending physicians
4. Network with CAP Fellows and gain insight from their successes and mistakes
5. Evaluate the new CAP Institute offerings including Certificate Programs and CAP SAMs, and begin a pathway for active involvement in the transformation of your specialty.
6. Plan to attend Futurescape 2009

More specific details on this campaign can be found at www.cap.org/transformation. Visit this site often to see the latest news, share your stories and ideas, and to learn more about what you can do to be part of this historic transformation of the specialty.