Transcription

• Nancy Johnson

  Proficiency testing is evolving to meet laboratory needs. And hear the story of a pathologist from Ghana who overcame countless barriers to practice medicine in the U.S. These stories and more coming up. This is Path News Network Daily Edition from the College of American Pathologists. I'm Nancy Johnson. It's Friday, December 19th, our last show before the holiday break. Laboratory medicine is changing fast, and proficiency testing is changing with it. In a Q&A with Medical Laboratory Online, the CAP's Dr. Joel Moncur says 21 new proficiency testing programs will launch next year to better reflect how modern labs operate. The new programs include several firsts, such as the world's first global program for molecular HIV detection and the first U.S. program for H5N1 avian influenza and dengue virus testing. Dr. Moncur says the updates will help labs maintain accuracy, consistency, and confidence in patient test results. A new artificial intelligence tool could help doctors detect breast cancer faster and more accurately. The system developed at the University of Maine is designed to analyze tissue samples the same way a human pathologist would. Pathologists say the new tool could offer relief in a global industry facing staff shortages. The article in the American Medical Journal notes that in testing, AI outperformed existing digital methods by examining close-up cell detail and the wider tissue structure. Experts say the technology could speed up diagnoses and improve patient outcomes while still leaving final medical decisions in the hands of physicians. New research suggests a genetic testing method called optical genome mapping could predict pregnancy loss. Data presented at the Association for Molecular Pathology meeting found the technique can detect hidden chromosome changes often missed by standard tests. Researchers identified dozens of structural genome changes in genes tied to recurrent pregnancy loss and infertility. Experts say combining optical genome mapping with traditional testing could help clinicians better understand genetic causes of miscarriages and guide patient care. And finally, a story of obstacles and perseverance that takes us from West Africa to the United States. A new CAP Foundation podcast highlights the powerful journey of an international medical graduate who chose to remain anonymous. He overcame extreme hardships to pursue a career in pathology. Growing up in the slums of Ghana, he faced limited resources and repeated setbacks, but he eventually graduated from medical school with the encouragement from his parents.

• Anonymous IMG

  After medical school, I completed only part of my required internship. Then I made a risky move. I left for the United States. I knew it wasn't the wisest decision. I didn't have a license from my home country. which meant I couldn't qualify for the U.S. Medical Residency Match. I was stuck.

• Nancy Johnson

  Listen to the podcast to hear the next part of his journey. The CAP Foundation asked members to donate to support the training and development of the next generation of pathologists. That's all for this episode. Be sure to check the show notes for more information on today's stories. And a quick programming note. This daily newscast is taking a holiday break for the next two weeks. We'll see you again January 5th at 5 a.m. Eastern for another episode of The Daily Edition. I'm Nancy Johnson, and from all of us, have a safe and healthy holiday and a happy new year.