INSIGHTS

/Why did you become interested in pathology, and what fascinates you about this field?

My interest in pathology began during medical school when I realized that pathology is the foundation of modern medicine. It connects basic science with clinical decision-making and helps explain the mechanisms behind diseases. What fascinates me most is that pathologists play a crucial role in patient care by providing accurate diagnoses that guide treatment. I am particularly interested in oncologic pathology because of its direct impact on personalized medicine and patient outcomes.

What is a typical day like for a pathologist in Ukraine? How does the training program work?

As I am currently a fifth-year medical student, I am not yet in residency training. However, through my academic activities and interactions with practicing pathologists, I have learned that a typical day involves examining tissue samples, reviewing microscopic slides, discussing complex cases with colleagues, and participating in multidisciplinary team meetings. In Ukraine, pathology training combines practical diagnostic work with continuous theoretical education and professional development. Despite the challenges faced by the healthcare system, Ukrainian pathologists remain highly dedicated to maintaining professional standards and improving diagnostic quality.

How did you first learn about the foundation and its funding opportunities?

I first learned about from my pathology professor at university. I was impressed by its commitment to supporting young professionals and providing access to international educational opportunities. The funding programs appeared to be an excellent chance to gain knowledge, build international connections, and contribute to the development of pathology in Ukraine.

How has participating in the International Junior Academy changed your work?

Participating in the International Junior Academy has significantly broadened my perspective on pathology. It has allowed me to learn from leading experts, become familiar with international standards, and gain insights into different healthcare systems. The program has strengthened my motivation to pursue a career in pathology and has helped me develop a more global view of the field. It has also improved my confidence in communicating and collaborating with colleagues from different countries.

In addition to sharing knowledge, we also want to encourage interaction among participants from different countries. Have we succeeded in doing so?

Absolutely. One of the most valuable aspects of the program has been the opportunity to interact with participants from various countries and backgrounds. These exchanges have provided not only educational benefits but also cultural and professional insights. I believe the program has successfully created an environment where participants can build lasting international relationships and learn from each other’s experiences.

How important are these funding programs for you and for your colleagues, particularly those from Ukraine?

These funding programs are extremely important. For many young medical professionals and students from Ukraine, international educational opportunities can be financially challenging to access. Such support helps remove barriers, promotes professional growth, and allows participants to engage with the global pathology community. Especially during difficult times, these initiatives provide valuable opportunities for education, networking, and future collaboration.

What advice would you give to other young colleagues who are just starting their training in pathology?

I would encourage them to stay curious and never stop learning. Pathology is a field that requires both scientific knowledge and attention to detail. It is important to build a strong foundation in basic sciences, actively seek mentorship, participate in educational activities, and engage with international professional communities. Most importantly, remember that behind every slide and diagnosis there is a patient whose care depends on your work.

How do you assess the role of social media in the training of pathologists in your country?

Social media has become an increasingly valuable educational tool for pathology trainees and young professionals in Ukraine. Platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and specialized pathology groups provide access to educational cases, expert discussions, webinars, and international networking opportunities. While social media should never replace formal training, it serves as an excellent supplement that helps pathologists stay informed about new developments and connect with colleagues worldwide.

/ Zum Einstieg: Möchten Sie sich kurz vorstellen?
Ja, sehr gerne. Mein Name ist Irene Esposito. Ich bin Direktorin des Instituts für Pathologie am Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf und Präsidentin der Deutschen Division der Internationalen Akademie für Pathologie.
Wie sind Sie zur Pathologie gekommen – und was hat Sie damals besonders daran gereizt?
Ich habe bereits sehr früh während des Medizinstudiums beschlossen, Pathologin zu werden. Das war direkt zu Beginn der Pathologie-Vorlesungen im 7. Semester, als ich die ganze Breite des Fachs verstanden habe und darin die Möglichkeit gesehen habe, Krankheiten unmittelbar zu sehen, gewissermaßen „anzufassen“ und dadurch wirklich zu verstehen. Für mich war die Pathologie außerdem das ideale Fach, um die ärztliche Tätigkeit mit der onkologischen Forschung zu verbinden, die mich schon immer fasziniert hat.
Was begeistert Sie heute, nach all den Jahren, noch immer an Ihrem Beruf?
Dass ich jeden Tag in der Routinediagnostik etwas Neues lernen kann. Außerdem entstehen aus der Betrachtung der Morphologie immer wieder neue Ideen für die Forschung. Genau diese Verbindung von Diagnostik, Wissenschaft und kontinuierlichem Lernen macht die Pathologie für mich bis heute so faszinierend.
Wenn Sie in die Zukunft blicken, welche Herausforderungen, aber auch welche Chancen, sehen Sie für die Pathologie?
Die größte Herausforderung ist sicherlich der Fachkräftemangel, der die akademische Pathologie stark belastet. Gleichzeitig liegt aber eine enorme Chance in der bereits stattfindenden Digitalisierung. Die Pathologie verbindet heute klassische Morphologie mit Digitalisierung, KI und Präzisionsmedizin – genau das macht das Fach auch für die Zukunft besonders spannend. Diese Entwicklungen werden uns helfen, Arbeitsabläufe effizienter zu gestalten und die Pathologie noch stärker mit den Technologien der Zukunft zu verknüpfen.
Was braucht es aus Ihrer Sicht, um mehr junge Menschen für die Pathologie zu begeistern und sie langfristig im Fach zu halten?
Ich glaube, dass viele junge Menschen die Pathologie zunächst gar nicht richtig kennenlernen. Oft merkt man erst im direkten Kontakt mit dem Fach, wie zentral unsere Rolle für Diagnose, Therapie und Prävention eigentlich ist. Die Modernisierung der Pathologie – insbesondere durch Digitalisierung sowie die Anwendung und Entwicklung pathologiespezifischer KI-Algorithmen – wird dabei eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Sie kann nicht nur helfen, den Arbeitsalltag besser zu strukturieren und die Arbeitsbedingungen attraktiver zu gestalten, sondern auch das Interesse der jüngeren Generationen neu zu wecken. Gleichzeitig bleibt die Pathologie ein Fach mit einer enormen diagnostischen und wissenschaftlichen Tiefe, das sehr viele Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten bietet.
Welchen Rat würden Sie jungen Menschen geben, die überlegen, in die Pathologie zu gehen?
Mein Rat ist, sich die Pathologie möglichst früh genauer anzuschauen – beispielsweise im Rahmen eines Praktikums, einer Hospitation oder eines freiwilligen wissenschaftlichen Jahres, wie es an einigen Universitäten, darunter auch an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, angeboten wird.
Wann sind Sie der IAP beigetreten – und was hat Sie damals dazu bewegt?
Die IAP bietet durch das Engagement zahlreicher Expertinnen und Experten einige der besten Fortbildungskurse und Seminare, die man im deutschsprachigen Raum finden kann. Besonders faszinierend fand ich außerdem die Möglichkeit, Kolleginnen und Kollegen persönlich kennenzulernen, deren Namen man zuvor nur aus Lehrbüchern oder wissenschaftlichen Publikationen kannte. Dieser direkte fachliche Austausch hat mich immer sehr begeistert.
Und zum Abschluss: Welche Schwerpunkte möchten Sie während Ihrer Präsidentschaft bei der IAP setzen?
Meine Schwerpunkte liegen in der Erweiterung des Angebots an Seminaren und Kursen – sowohl in Präsenz als auch in hybriden oder reinen Online-Formaten –, die Pathologinnen und Pathologen über die gesamte berufliche Laufbahn hinweg begleiten, vom Beginn der Facharztausbildung bis zum Ende der Karriere.

Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt ist die Diversität, verstanden zum Beispiel als ein noch breiteres Spektrum an Tutorinnen und Tutoren: sowohl etablierte Expertinnen und Experten als auch jüngere Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die sich bereits eine besondere fachliche Expertise aufgebaut haben und dadurch ihre Sichtbarkeit weiter stärken können.

Ein dritter Schwerpunkt ist die weitere Internationalisierung. Ich möchte die Zusammenarbeit mit den internationalen Divisionen intensivieren, um den wissenschaftlichen Austausch weiter auszubauen und neue Perspektiven für gemeinsame Fortbildungs- und Forschungsinitiativen zu schaffen.

/• Why did you become a pathologist, and what fascinates you about this field?

I decided to become a pathologist because I wanted to contribute to diagnostic medicine in Rwanda, which currently has fewer than 20 pathologists serving a population of around 14 million people. Without an accurate diagnosis, clinicians often struggle to provide the most effective treatment, which highlights the critical role pathology plays in patient care and outcomes. And I am fascinated by how a diagnosis made under the microscope can directly influence treatment decisions and improve patients’ lives.

• What is a typical day like for a pathologist in Rwanda? How does the training program work?

A typical day involves a variety of scheduled activities, including attending the grossing station to take representative sections from tissue samples, performing fine needle aspirations for patients with lumps, microscopic review of histological slides to make diagnoses, discussing cases with clinicians during tumor boards, and participating in teaching activities. The training program is highly practical and hands-on, although we often work with limited resources.

• How did you first learn about the foundation and its funding opportunities?

I first learned about the foundation through a professional colleague who had previously been supported by the foundation. I learned about its mission of promoting pathology through research and education, and decided to apply for the Vladimir Totović travel grant which I was later awarded to attend the 15th International Junior Academy held in Bordeaux, France

• How has participating in the International Junior Academy changed your work?

At the International Junior Academy, I had the opportunity to meet renowned pathologists from different parts of the world, mainly from developed European countries. Through these interactions, I learned best practices in diagnosis, which expanded my professional perspective, strengthened my diagnostic skills, and exposed me to innovative approaches that I can apply in my daily practice to improve patient outcomes.

• In addition to sharing knowledge, we also want to encourage interaction among participants from different countries. Have we succeeded in doing so?

Absolutely. The program created a welcoming environment for collaboration and exchange, and it allowed participants from different countries to build lasting professional and personal connections.

• You are currently in Göttingen on a 3-month research fellowship with Prof. Ströbel to learn more about digital pathology. How can you integrate these new insights into your daily work after your return and share this knowledge with your colleagues?

In addition to the travel grant, I was also awarded the foundation’s Research Fellowship grant to help actualize my long-term goal of introducing digital pathology in Rwanda. I am truly grateful to the foundation for its significant contribution to the success of my professional career. This fellowship has provided me with valuable exposure to digital pathology and modern diagnostic workflows. I have had the opportunity to learn from outstanding professors, trainees, and assistants at the Institute of Pathology, which is fully digitalized. After returning home, I hope to share this knowledge through the online platform we are building, (www.pathorwanda.com), as well as through teaching sessions, collaborative discussions, and the gradual implementation of digital approaches in our practice

• How important are these funding programs for you and for your colleagues, particularly those from Africa?

These funding programs are extremely important because they provide access to advanced training, international mentorship, and technologies that are often difficult to access in my country and many other African institutions. For example, back home we do not routinely perform high-end molecular pathology techniques such as sequencing. Therefore, when someone like me receives an opportunity through the foundation’s funding programs to train at advanced institutions like the University Medical Center Göttingen, it becomes a life-changing experience not only for the individual recipient but also for the entire home institution. Such exposure helps shift our approach from relying mainly on morphological diagnosis to integrating molecular-level understanding of patients’ conditions, ultimately improving patient care.

• What advice would you give to young colleagues who are just starting their training in pathology?

I would encourage them to remain courageous, curious, and committed to continuous learning. Pathology requires attention to detail and strong pattern recognition skills, but it is also a very rewarding field that has a major impact on patient care. In addition, I would advise them to actively seek international exposure through conferences and training opportunities, as these experiences broaden their global perspective in pathology rather than limiting their thinking to local practice alone.

• How do you assess the role of social media in the training of pathologists in your country?

Social media has become an important educational tool and plays a key role, especially in resource-limited settings. It allows pathologists to access educational materials, connect with international experts, and stay updated with developments in the field. For example, and not as an advertisement, I frequently follow Dr. Jerad Gardner on his YouTube channel for Dermatopathology cases, which are often challenging. This is particularly helpful because we currently do not have a Dermatopathologist in Rwanda to teach this subspecialty locally.