CAPcast from the College of American Pathologists

There’s a gap in the instructional texts for surgical pathology, such that residents preparing for pathology board exams or even practicing pathologists who need a refresher/reference texts lack sufficient information. In this CAPcast, Daniel Mais, MD, FCAP, discusses his recently published book, Surgical Pathology Review, which is focused on addressing these gaps. Visit the CAP's estore to purcha...

One of the challenging aspects of transitioning from a pathologist in training to one who is new in practice is how to organize your workday. In this CAPcast, Yasmeen Butt, MD, FCAP, and Neha Varshney, MD, FCAP, discuss this topic from both a private practice and an academic practice perspective. For more resources for pathologists early in their careers, visit the New in Practice section under th...

It's one thing to talk about the advocacy pathologists engage in, but it's another to get started in that advocacy, especially in a time where getting in contact with elected officals can be more difficult than ever. Bekra Yorke, MD, FCAP, Houston Methodist Hospital Pathology invited three residents: Chiraag Gangahar, MD, FCAP, Ashley Holloman, MD, and Lukas Cara, MD, to participate in their first...

In this recap, we review the final Medicare fee schedule regulations, updates from Cigna, and more.

Distinguishing between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is critical, because delayed diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is associated with 20% or more risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, a major cause of death in children. Differentiating between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is also extremely important for choice of appropriate therapy. While the clinical presentation of a patient may not allow an unambiguous discri...

The CAP’s Accreditation Services is launching its Online Deficiency Response on December 20. This will impact the way the CAP’s accreditation customers send the necessary documentation for any deficiencies cited during their inspection. In this CAPcast, Amy Daniels, the CAP’s Technical Director of Accreditation Services, describes the new process for responding to deficiencies and how it impacts l...

In the latest episode in our series commemorating the CAP's 75th Anniversary, we talk with past presidents Thomas Sodeman, MD, FCAP, and Bruce Williams, MD, FCAP, about discovering and nurturing the next generation of pathologist leaders. Dr. Sodeman was president from 2005 to 2007 and Dr. Williams was president from 2017-2019. Dr. Sodeman appointed Dr. Williams to one of his first leadership role...

Precision oncology in the treatment of solid tumors is a rapidly growing field which involves testing for molecular biomarkers. Molecular biomarkers can be used to confirm a diagnosis, provide prognostic information, and select targeted therapies. Pathologists need a working knowledge of these biomarkers and assays used for their evaluation to optimize patient care, explains Jennifer Yoest, MD, FC...

During this years' annual CAP meeting, Dr. Emily Volk was formally inagurated. We sat down with our new president to discuss the clinical goals and advocacy priorities she has for the CAP during her tenure.

Amylase testing has long been used as a diagnostic tool for pancreatitis, despite amylase levels not being a definitive indicator of pancreatitis. Lipase offers a more useful diagnostic result, as its readings are a better indicator of inflammation of the pancreas, according to James Nichols, PhD, a member of the CAP Quality Practices Committee. Ordering a combination of amylase and lipase is a co...

Leading a laboratory involves both technical knowledge and softer skills: technical knowledge of testing and accreditation is needed along with the ability to manage people, perform risk assessment, and deal with finances and budgeting. Many pathologists leave training with the required technical knowledge but sometimes lack training and confidence in the “softer” skills. The CAP’s Laboratory Medi...

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized oncology through dramatically increased survival rates, even in late-stage disease. Some biomarkers are already covered in what has become routine testing in many laboratories, affording pathologists an opportunity to play a central role in developing and implementing these biomarkers in ways to improve patient care, explains Eric Walk, MD, FCAP, Chief Medic...

For this episode we have a conversation with Dr. Richard Eisner to discuss the CAP’s Virtual fly-in to Capitol Hill that he participated in to urge members of Congress to mitigate future cuts to Medicare. As well as Cigna PC of CP updates, news from capitol hill, and more.

Yasmeen Butt, MD, FCAP, talks to her Mayo Clinic pathologist colleague Theresa Kinard, MD, FCAP, about why she decided to focus her pathology career in transfusion medicine, as well as the challenges and opportunities that she encounters in this area of laboratory medicine.

Emily Green, MD, FCAP leads a discussion about pathologist-patient consultations with Favia Dubyk, MD, FCAP and Lija Joseph, MD, FCAP. Both are pathologists with unique practices where they interact directly with patients around their pathology results.

The CAP continues to introduce innovative inspection models to ensure safety for our inspectors and laboratories while working around evolving travel restrictions related to COVID-19. In this CAPcast episode, Frank Sharkey, MD, FCAP, joins us again to discuss how to plan and conduct advanced document review for both in-person and virtual inspections, as well as some other modifications to the insp...

Welcome to our latest episode of our CAPcast 75th Anniversary series where we ask past presidents to provide a glimpse behind the curtain of leadership and share their insights on leading the profession and a major organization like the CAP. This episode’s discussion features Richard Friedberg, MD, PhD, FCAP, and Bruce Williams, MD, FCAP. Serving back-to-back terms, Dr. Friedberg was president fro...

Pathologists and laboratory staff in various practice settings have experienced severe challenges and stresses secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic. This CAPcast features an audio recording of a virtual roundtable discussion about pathologist wellness and resilience in the face of burnout, which was hosted by the CAP’s Practice Management Committee earlier in 2021. Moderated by Dr. Karim Sirgi, pane...

In this CAPcast Roundtable, leading pathologists provide a primer on digital pathology and discuss what pathology residents need to know about the burgeoning field of digital pathology. CAP Digital Content Committee members Drs. Nicole Riddle and Ziad El-Zaatari facilitate this discussion with Drs. Eric Glassy and Kamran Mirza, both of whom have an interest and expertise in digital pathology. For...

This latest episode of the special CAPcast series celebrating the CAP's 75th Anniversary features a discussion with past-Presidents Stephen Bauer, MD, FCAP, and Stanley Robboy, MD, FCAP. Serving back-to-back terms, Dr. Bauer was president from 2009 to 2011 and Dr. Robboy was president from 2011 to 2013. This period in the CAP's history focused on how the organization needed to transform to meet th...

In this CAPcast we’ll have a conversation with Kathryn Knight, MD, FCAP about the CAP’s annual meeting and the advocacy town hall she moderated. Other stories include FDA network of experts admission, updates on CAP advocacy in regards to the reconcilliation bill in Congress and more.

This latest episode in the CAPcast series commemorating the CAP's 75th Anniversary features Paul Bachner, MD, FCAP, who served as president from 1999-2001 and Bruce Williams, MD, FCAP, who served as president from 2017-2019. During Dr. Williams’ term, the Board approved an update of the CAP’s history for its 75th anniversary as the last book was published in 1996 for the CAP’s 50th anniversary. Dr...

Few residents receive training in informatics, but almost every laboratory faces informatics challenges. These include installing new software or a new instrument, maintaining privacy, protecting laboratory data security, and more. This fall, the CAP is introducing a new Informatics Case-Based Education (ICBE) program (https://capatholo.gy/3m3lSuz), which is designed to help pathologists get ready...

Welcome to the latest episode in this CAPcast special series celebrating the CAP's 75th anniversary. This episode features Drs. Patrick Godbey and Emily Volk. Serving back-to-back terms, Dr. Godbey has been president from 2019 to 2021 and Dr. Volk assumes office this year in 2021. Drs. Godbey and Volk discuss what it’s been like to lead the profession during this historic time during the COVID-19...

The incidence of genetic mutations increases with age. Age-related mutations in hematopoietic stem cells in the absence of a hematologic malignancy is termed clonal hematopoiesis, or CH. While CH took the hematology field by storm several years ago, there is increased awareness of the identification of CH not just underlying hematologic neoplasms, but in the background of solid tumors as well, exp...