CAP TODAY Pathology/Laboratory Medicine/Laboratory Management
The CAP also gave me valuable skills for my career development. I had the opportunity to go to speaker training and advocacy school, both precursors to what we now know as the Engaged Leadership Academy and Pathologists Leadership Summit. I have had the privilege of advocating for our patients—for patient access, safety, and quality—in the media and in the halls of Congress. That speaker training and those advocacy experiences taught me how to be more effective in front of an audience, how to communicate through the media, and how to engage in new ways with my community.
Participating in the CAP has also opened new doors for me. As my husband and I moved around the country, to be closer to family and to grow in our careers, our connections at the CAP made that process so much easier. I could feel at home in new places because I had this organization in common with other pathologists. The CAP has been the home I carried with me.
I would love to give that same sense of belonging and foundation of helpful resources to every pathologist at the start of his or her career. Our Residents Forum allows people to influence the strategic direction of the CAP, with a direct connection to the Board of Governors. They can also participate on committees and councils as junior members. That’s a remarkable opportunity: You get to sit in the room with nationally known experts with whom you can develop relationships that will keep you connected to the whole profession. Residents and early-career pathologists can apply for scholarships through the CAP Foundation to attend the Pathologists Leadership Summit. Residents and fellows can go to “what we fund” on foundation.cap.org to read about the awards under “Leadership Development.” The CAP offers our newest pathologists the chance to develop personally and professionally. Through the CAP Foundation, young pathologists can pursue altruistic opportunities such as the See, Test & Treat program. This organization can make your world bigger, just as it did mine.
The entire CAP membership benefits from their participation too. Residents and early-career pathologists bring a youthful perspective and a view of new trends, such as shifting employment models in industry or different skills that employers are looking for. They help us keep in touch with the needs of academic institutions. This information allows us to tailor educational resources to better meet all pathologists’ needs, whether they are starting out in this field or more experienced practitioners who are learning new skills.
I ask all of you to help ensure the longevity and vitality of the CAP by reaching out to residents and young staff members and telling them about what a membership in the CAP could mean to them. If you are in a position to offer your time as a mentor to junior CAP members, please take that opportunity. In the future, the whole pathology community will reap the rewards of today’s investment when this generation is ready to take on critical leadership roles within the CAP.
Dr. Volk welcomes communication from CAP members. Write to her at president@cap.org.