Medical education and its impact on the future of pathology.

The impact of changes in medical education on the future of pathology are examined by analyzing how recommendations in the GPEP report may affect pathology practice. For pathologist teachers, there will be increasing involvement with students during the clinical years of the curriculum and emphasis on new course material particularly related to the problems of aging, environmental pathology, and principles of prevention. The hospital pathologist will have a leadership role in introducing computer technology and will become increasingly involved in ambulatory and outrearch services. Pathologists will become more involved in the continuing education of other physicians, particularly with emphasis on using the laboratory to solve specific problems utilizing new technologies, new areas of testing, and the pathologist as a consultant.