International Pathology Day

Today, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) celebrates the inaugural International Pathology Day alongside a wide range of countries including New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, and South Africa.
International Pathology Day is an awareness day which is dedicated to highlighting pathology’s central role in the healthcare system.  This year’s event specifically focuses on the future of medicine in the genomics era and investigates what pathologists will be able to offer patients, in terms of diagnoses and treatment, in the years ahead.
A/Prof Peter Stewart, President of the RCPA, says International Pathology Day will drive awareness of the vital work of pathologists and scientists which largely takes place behind the scenes.
“Pathology is the foundation for the clinical practice of medicine, and paves the way to the appropriate diagnosis, management and treatment of diseases.
“In reality, every person relies on the work of a pathologist at some point in their life however, more often than not, patients don’t know how closely involved a pathologist is in their healthcare and the diagnosis of their conditions,” says A/Prof Stewart.
With increasing advances in technology, and a higher number and a wider variety of tests are taking place each year, the profession is placed under growing pressure.  Pathology is responsible for the diagnosis of 100% of all cancers and 70% of all diseases, requiring sufficient funding and a substantial supply of highly trained professionals.
“Celebrating pathology and raising awareness of its vital role to patients, as well as in the medical arena, is crucial to maintaining our excellent reputation and high standards.  We want to encourage people to consider careers in the scientific fields by showcasing the ground-breaking work of pathologists and scientists.
“Technology and the rise of genomic testing will see pathology become an even bigger part of medicine in the future, which is extremely exciting.  Medicine is pathology,” says A/Prof Stewart