Enhancing Interest in Pathology Interest Group Activities

Disclosures: The authors have disclosed no relevant conflicts of interest. Objectives: Lower interest in pathology among medical students is multifactorial and includes minimal exposure, concerns over reduced patient contact, and the relative lack of prestige. While recruitment efforts have largely focused on curriculum change, pathology interest groups is a promising yet under-appreciated strategy. We hosted successful pathology interest group activities and aim to share tactics to support parallel efforts in other schools. Methods: The Nowell Pathology Interest Group (NPIG) at the University of Pennsylvania is a student-run organization that aims to promote interest in the specialty and networking with the pathology department. Supported by department funds, external grants, and medical school student group funding, NPIG hosts an event around every other month. While career panels are the mainstay, NPIG also held lab tours and Hot Topic talks, tabled at a community health fair, and hosted a holiday reception/trivia night. Attendance is taken at most events, and surveys were conducted at the holiday reception. Results: NPIG's best attended event, with over 50 students, is a holiday reception in December where students are given gift bags with candy and pamphlets about pathology. Career panels draw around 25 students, while lab tours and talks on specific topics, such as COVID testing and access disparities, draw 15-20 students. Events are largely attended by MS1s, some MS2s, and a few upper year students. Attendees are most familiar with surgical pathology and appreciate the work-life balance and opportunities for research in the specialty. Students are deterred by the perception that pathologists lack patient interaction, yet they are not versed in the diversity of pathology subspecialties. While most attendees report no personal interactions with a pathologist, they would be open to exploring the daily life of a pathologist. Free food and giveaway items, as well as scheduling proximal to mandatory in-person classes, are the most reliable strategies for drawing students to NPIG events. Conclusions: A multimodal approach that exposes students to diverse pathologists, career tracks, and the possibility of patient contact can enhance student interest while raising the specialty's profile. Financial investment in interest groups can increase initial exposure to the specialty, reinforcing parallel recruitment efforts in curriculum (re)design and elective rotations. NPIG's experience highlights the potential of peer influence - seeing classmates interested in pathology- to enhance student exploration of the specialty.