CAP TODAY Pathology/Laboratory Medicine/Laboratory Management
Patrick Godbey, MD
October 2019—I have two goals as a pathologist, and I suspect that my colleagues share them. First, I want to be the best physician—the best pathologist—so I can give the best possible care to my patients. Second, I want to get paid fairly for the service I provide.
Being the best pathologist comes with a number of requirements: staying up to date on the latest information and protocols, practicing in a quality lab, and working with great pathologists. On all fronts, being active in the CAP makes a difference. The CAP grants more continuing medical education hours than any other organization in pathology, ensuring that members have the opportunity to stay up to date. Our laboratory accreditation process supports members’ access to the best-quality laboratory procedures. There is no better laboratory text on quality than the CAP’s accreditation checklists, and they are updated regularly by CAP fellows. In other words, if you follow what’s in the CAP checklists, you will have a quality laboratory. The CAP plays an important role in helping to attract good medical students into our field and protecting our graduate medical education programs to ensure we have a steady supply of talented, qualified professionals to join our ranks.
Patrick Godbey, MD
As for the second goal, I don’t apologize at all for my interest in getting paid appropriately for the vital service I provide for patients—and I hope you don’t either. But it’s about more than just a paycheck; it’s about recognition of the important service we provide to our patients every day. We must be allowed to be involved in writing the regulations that dictate everything from our income to our compliance guidelines. I want to make sure that pathologists can help determine their own fate. Again, active members of the CAP are best positioned for success on this front. Our Council on Government and Professional Affairs, which I had the good fortune to chair, performs invaluable functions that matter to all members.
The CAP is the only organization that has a political action committee that looks out solely for the interests of patients and pathologists. We also have an office that facilitates ongoing conversations with the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the offices of senators and representatives in Washington, DC, as well as those in the state capitals. More than any other pathology organization, we have a chance to influence what goes on in federal and state organizations.
Like many of you, I’ve been a member of the CAP much longer than I’ve been an active member. One of my goals is to encourage others to take an active role in the CAP. After all, supporting this organization is not only good for our profession but also crucial for the care of the patients we’re trying to help.
Getting involved is easier than you might think. The simplest way is to vote. It’s a privilege that the CAP allows every fellow to vote directly for all of the organization’s leaders. The CAP’s unique structure makes it that much more important that every fellow take part.