As a college student I was told pathologists would be replaced by flow cytometry
As a medical student I was told pathologists would be replaced by gene chips
As a pathology resident I was told pathologists would be replaced by PCR and FISH
As a fellow I was told pathologists would be replaced by next generation sequencing
As an attending pathologist, so far, I have been told I would be replaced by whole slide imaging, digital pathology, image analysis, computers, pigeons, cancer sniffing dogs and artificial intelligence
So how is it possible every day there are piles of slides and FNAs and frozen sections and smears and aspirates and quality assurance/quality control just as there was 30 years ago?
I have come to the realization that my replacement is a 14-year-old kid struggling with algebra trying to find a date for homecoming who will be told he/she is going to be replaced…