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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