Transcription

• Elizabeth McMahon

  It's time to celebrate you. Today's Membership Appreciation Day recognizes the power of community with new benefits and programs. Plus, PATH Together. Learn about a new forum where CAP members at every age and stage can connect and grow. This and more coming up. Welcome to the PATH News Network Daily Edition from the College of American Pathologists. I'm Elizabeth McMahon. It's Wednesday, November 12th.

• CAP Board of Governors

  So to all my fellow CAP members, thank you for your commitment, your leadership, and your passion. Together you show us what can truly be accomplished when precision meets purpose. Thank you for being a part of the CAP.

• Elizabeth McMahon

  Gratitude. It's at the heart of today's first CAP Membership Appreciation Day, honoring the nearly 20,000 professionals who embody this community. You just heard part of a video message. from members of the Board of Governors kicking off the celebration. Their full tribute will run across CAP's social media channels today, and you can get in on the action too. Use the social media template available on the CAP homepage and give a shout-out to a special group or colleague. Today's celebration includes the debut of PathTogether, a new space for discussion, networking, and idea sharing. You'll hear more about this forum, plus a new mentorship program, And in an interview later in the broadcast. So pop the champagne, or the apple juice if you're in the office, and head over to CAP.org to start the celebration. The CAP has granted international accreditation to the Cedars-Sinai Biobank and Research Pathology Resource in California, one of just six in the state to receive the distinction. Cedars-Sinai was accredited in four specialty areas, including histology, microscopy, and image analytics. biobanking and research pathology. The biobank stores 1.5 million specimens containing blood, fluid, tissue, and cell samples. It also houses a living biobank with 3D organoids, cell clusters that mimic the structure and function of organs. This is the third consecutive year the biobank, established 10 years ago, has earned CAP accreditation. Scientists have always needed animals to help them create antibodies to fight diseases in humans. Enter AI. For the first time, a team at the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design has designed new antibodies from scratch using AI. Led by David Baker, who won last year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the team tested their computer-created antibodies against several real-world targets, including hemagglutinin, a protein on flu viruses that helps it infect cells, the C. diff bacteria, and others. In most cases, the AI-generated antibodies bound to their targets. Writing their findings in the journal Nature, the team reports that while AI could be faster and more cost-effective than immunizing animals to generate drugs, significant research and improvements are needed before that is a reality. And finally, Precision Meets Purpose on a new CAP platform launching just in time for Membership Appreciation Day. I spoke with Dr. Phyu Aung of the Member Engagement Committee about Path Together and a new CAP mentorship program, places where members at every age and stage can connect and grow. Thanks so much for joining me, Dr. Aung. Tell me more about PathTogether. Why did the CAP launch it and what need does it fill? Yeah,

• Dr. Phyu Aung

  so you know the cup created this platform called PathTogether to strengthen the sense of community and connection among its members, no matter their role, location, or stage in their career. You know, we recognize that YNCAP offers a wide range of valuable resources, events, and programs. Members needed a more streamlined, personalized way to assess and engage with them. This dedicated space provides member with an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and engage more easily. You know, it's filled the needs for a centralized member-only platform where you can connect with peers in secure community, share ideas through bad voice, assess mentorship opportunity, and discover relevant events and resources all in one place. It is designed basically to simplify your experience and strengthen your connection to the CAP. and fellow members. Ultimately, PathTogether is about making it easier for you to engage, contribute, and grow together.

• Elizabeth McMahon

  As these platforms grow and members connect, what kinds of conversations do you see emerging?

• Dr. Phyu Aung

  We really expect this PathTogether platform to spark a wide range of meaningful, member-driven conversations and community because it is designed by and for the CAP members, so the possibilities are exciting and very diverse. So members might see various groups, for example, a first-year fellows group where early-career pathologists swap tips. on boat preparation, job hunting or navigating their first cases, a lab leader lounge where medical directors and managers share strategy on staffing, compliance, and quality improvement, a pathology and parenthood thread where members talk about balancing pathologist's life with their family life, or even a coffee and cases community where members post interesting cases. and crowdsource incisors over their money brew. So the goal is to create spaces where members can learn from each other, share experiences, and build lasting professional relationships.

• Elizabeth McMahon

  Could you dive a little deeper into how these platforms benefit members professionally, especially early career pathologists?

• Dr. Phyu Aung

  That's a great question and very, very important. This is something I'm passionate about. You know, Path Together is designed, of course, to support CAD members at every stage of their professional journey, but it's especially valuable for early career professionals looking to build connection, gain insights, and grow with confidence. Here is how, for example, mentorship program. One of the most exciting features is the new mentorship program, which makes it easier for members to find mentors or become one, whether you are navigating your first job, preparing for leadership, or exploring a new subspecialty. This program helps you learn directly from experienced peers. So talking about peers, another one is peer-to-peer learning. Through discussion forums and topic-based communities, members can ask questions, share experiences, and get real-world advice from colleagues across the country.

• Elizabeth McMahon

  That's all for today's Daily Edition. You can find more details on all these stories in our show notes. Don't miss our advocacy newsletter on Tuesdays. and our weekly edition newsletter on Thursdays. We'll be back tomorrow at 5 a.m. Eastern. You can subscribe to this show on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. I'm Elizabeth McMahon. Have a great day.