Vote to decide
July 2026—There’s an important election coming up, and it’s not the one you’ve been hearing about on the news. Voting will begin soon for new members of the CAP’s Board of Governors, and I urge you to take part.
Unfortunately, many CAP members do not vote in our elections. Some people may have a perception that voting doesn’t matter because many professional associations are run like old boys’ clubs. But that isn’t the case for us: The CAP is 20,000 members strong, and we run open elections to ensure that any qualified member has the chance to serve in a leadership role.
I’m always stunned to find that people don’t take advantage of their right to vote. I came to this country in part because of this beautiful idea of democracy—the idea that anyone can step forward. Anyone has a chance to be elected because everyone gets to decide. If you care about the future of the CAP, you have the right and the obligation to contribute to that future by stepping forward to lead and by voting for our leaders.
The CAP has worked hard to make sure our election process is as transparent as possible. If you’re not familiar with the setup, here’s a quick rundown. The CAP has three officers: president, president-elect, and secretary-treasurer. We also have the Board of Governors, with 12 members and two members rotating off each year. Finally, the House of Delegates and the Residents Forum elect their own leadership.
In the election that’s about to be held, we have four candidates running for positions on the Board of Governors. In early May, each candidate stood on a stage and answered questions from our members. I think that’s a fantastic way to get to know the candidates; nobody knows the questions ahead of time so we get to see how people think on their feet. Candidates will also use other opportunities during their campaigns to make sure members know their positions on key issues and their vision for the CAP. The election process is open, fair, and professional.
We should all care about who’s elected to the Board of Governors. This is the group of people who craft the long-term strategy for the CAP. They make important decisions about the organization, such as recruiting our next CEO. Board members also serve as chair, vice chair, and members of major councils, providing leadership for key areas such as advocacy or the laboratory quality program.
Beyond voting for the current round of candidates, I also hope more CAP members consider taking on a leadership role. Pathologists work across a wide spectrum—from private practice to academic institutions to reference labs and more—and we need leaders with different backgrounds to represent the full diversity of our profession. The CAP is a members organization; we all need to step forward to contribute and lead.
I understand that leadership roles aren’t right for everyone at all times. You have to look after your own family and your own career first. If you have a new baby at home or you’re starting a new practice, it may not be the right time to throw your hat in the ring. That’s OK. These positions require significant commitments; they are a privilege and a stress at the same time.
But if you are at a point in your life when you could take on extra responsibility and contribute to the CAP through a leadership role, please give it some thought. In addition to helping to set the strategy for our organization going forward, you could also have the opportunity to work with ambitious, passionate, wise people who are dedicated to making pathology the best profession it can be. There are no high bars for members to be qualified to become candidates. Anyone who qualifies may run a campaign to let the membership know who they are and how they plan to represent and advocate for pathologists. If you’re interested in becoming a candidate in a future CAP election, feel free to reach out and I can share more information.
Dr. Zhai welcomes communication from CAP members. Write to him at president@cap.org.