Pathology is more than what happens under a microscope. It’s about the people who dedicate their careers to improving lives. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, is a podcast for medical students, residents, and early-career pathologists navigating the journey into the profession.
Each month, you’ll hear honest conversations with people who are just a few steps ahead, sharing the lessons they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced, and the advice they wish they’d received sooner. Whether you’re exploring pathology for the first time or taking the next step in your career, our goal is to help you feel more connected, more confident, and inspired by the community you’re becoming a part of.
New episodes drop monthly. Because beyond every test is a story, a mentor, and a future waiting to be discovered.
Listen to the Latest
Season 2 | Episode #6: From Finding Pathology to Expanding Its Reach
Why do so many medical students overlook pathology? Nicholas Barron, a fourth-year medical student at Michigan State University and 2025 CAP Foundation Sparking Interest in Pathology Award recipient, believes the answer often comes down to one thing: exposure.
Nick shares how he helped revive a pre-clerkship pathology elective and turn a small, hands-on learning experience into an opportunity for students across Michigan State. He and Joanna discuss the power of early mentorship, how one microscope became a gateway to digital pathology, and how just one session helped spark greater interest in the specialty.
They also explore what makes pathology feel like solving a puzzle, how AI and molecular tools are shaping the field, and why students shouldn’t wait for the “perfect” opportunity to get involved.
This episode is a look at how one student-led idea can create access, confidence, and a sense of belonging, and inspire the next generation of pathologists.
Featured Guest: Nicholas Barron is a fourth-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and a former Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS, ASCP). He serves as the Upperclassman Liaison for the MSU CHM COM Pathology Interest Group, Medical Student Liaison for the Michigan Society of Pathologists, and is a member of the Digital Communications Action Group within the College of American Pathologists Residents Forum Executive Committee (RFEC). Nicholas is passionate about pathology education, mentorship, and expanding early exposure to the specialty. He helped create a pre-clerkship pathology elective, supported by the CAP Foundation Sparking Interest in Pathology Award, and was recently published in Academic Pathology demonstrating how innovative educational initiatives can strengthen student engagement and interest in pathology.
Resources and Links:
- Read more about Nicholas Barron’s Work – Student Led Pathology Elective Expands Early Exposure and Strengthens Specialty Interest at an Osteopathic Medical School (Academic Pathology): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acpath.2025.100186
- CAP Foundation: https://foundation.cap.org
- PathTogether: https://community.cap.org
- Intersociety Council for Pathology Information (ICPI): https://pathologytraining.org
- MatchToPath: https://www.matchtopath.com
- PathElective: https://www.pathelective.com
- Virtual Pathology Student Interest Group (Virtual PathSIG): https://www.virtualpathsig.com
- Michigan Society of Pathologists (MiSP): https://www.pathologyconnections.com/michigan
- MSU CHM COM Pathology Interest Group: https://www.instagram.com/msupathig/
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Season 2 | Episode #6: From Finding Pathology to Expanding Its Reach
Aug 10, 2026 • 00:18:57
Pathology is more than what happens under a microscope. It’s about the people who dedicate their careers to improving lives. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, is a podcast for medical students, residents, and early-career pathologists navigating the journey into the profession. Each month, you’ll hear honest conversations with…
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Season 2 | Episode #5: Start Before You’re Ready: Sparking an Interest in Forensic Pathology
Jul 7, 2026 • 00:28:27
Pathology is more than what happens under a microscope. It’s about the people who dedicate their careers to improving lives. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, is a podcast for medical students, residents, and early-career pathologists navigating the journey into the profession. Each month, you’ll hear honest conversations with…
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Season 2 | Episode #4: Pathology 101:The Specialty You Never Knew You Needed
May 21, 2026 • 00:07:49
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop…
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Bonus Episode | Mindful Minutes: Why Helping Others Helps You
Apr 23, 2026 • 00:18:29
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop…
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Season 2 | Episode #3: Running on Empty: Scarcity, Shortages, and the Future of Care
Mar 16, 2026 • 40:22
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis.Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop monthly—because…
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Bonus Episode | Mindful Minutes
Mar 4, 2026 • 16:04
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop…
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Season 2 | Episode #2: The Breaking Point: Pain and Burnout in Pathology
Feb 25, 2026 • 20:04
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop…
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Season 2 | Episode #1: Through War, Cancer, and Boards: A Pathologist’s Unbreakable Journey
Jan 28, 2026 • 7:34
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop…
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Season 1 | Episode #4: Breaking Barriers: One Physician’s Story
Dec 11, 2025 • 12:21
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop…
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Season 1 | Episode #3: The Visibility Gap: Part 2
Nov 21, 2025 • 25:13
Pathology is not just about samples and slides—it’s about people, communities, and the stories behind every diagnosis. Beyond the Test: Connecting Communities Through Pathology, brought to you by the CAP Foundation, shines a light on how pathologists are advancing health equity and shaping the future of care. New episodes drop…
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