Nathan Ryan selected for national Pathology Honor Society
Nathan Ryan, a third-year student in the College of Medicine, was recently selected as a member of the national Pathology Honor Society. The honor is in recognition of his scholastic achievement and interest in the pathology curriculum and activities, as well as accomplishments as a medical student in research, leadership and overall excellence. Ryan shared with The Pulse his thoughts on the field of pathology and his plans for the future.
Can you share some examples of the research and leadership activities that may have led to your selection into the Pathology Honor Society?
Prior to medical school I worked as a lab manager at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center studying oral cancer immunology. I’ve continued this research in medical school, publishing several manuscripts. My time is also volunteered to furthering research endeavors as a peer reviewer for the journal Frontiers in Immunology, as well as editing for the Journal of Medical Sciences at NEOMED. I’ve been able to branch out a little as well, working with the dermatology resident and NEOMED alum Dr. Kelly Kimball (’23), in publishing dermatopathology case reports.
It's been a great joy of mine to also help my colleagues when able. I devote a fairly large amount of time to tutoring, with a focus on histology. Teaching others about what I find exciting has been a great time and a fun way to give back to our community of lifelong learners. I regularly meet with a small tutoring group, who have been a blast to work with.
What is it about pathology that piques your interest?
I really love the histology aspect of pathology. I find that the slides are very much an art form of their own. It is extremely fascinating to me to see how the microscopic architecture seen on the slide is reflected in the observable gross pathology. Learning the language of pathology and being able to interpret what is seen microscopically is a great challenge and is highly intellectually stimulating. I also love that the field is so broad, with many opportunities to branch out in leadership and education. Pathology interacts with virtually every other medical specialty, and so there are numerous options to subspecialize and find the niche that matches your interests best. From forensics to surgical pathology, it’s a field with something for everyone.
Do you plan to make your career in pathology?
Pathology was what I had in mind when I first started medical school and still remains the field I am most interested in. I intend to pursue academics and engage extensively in medical education and leadership, possibly one day working as a department chair or program director if I am provided the opportunity. While I’ve been able to find something in every field that is interesting, nothing has really captivated me quite so much as pathology. There’s just something about seeing the stained tissue and coming up with a more definitive diagnosis that is uniquely exciting to me.
Do you have a mentor in the field? What is one thing they taught you that inspired you?
Dr. Jennifer Baccon [NEOMED professor of pathology] has been a phenomenal mentor for me throughout my time at NEOMED, and I certainly don’t think I’d have been able to accomplish so much without her guidance. She’s been integral to many of my successes, directing me towards events and activities where I’ve been able to network extensively, that I otherwise would not have had. She’s really been great at demonstrating how to be an effective leader in pathology, and hers is an example I hope to follow.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’d definitely recommend to any student with even a passing interest to explore pathology a little! It’s a field where students do not get much exposure throughout medical school, and yet is a field that the majority of physicians will interact with, knowingly or not, throughout their careers. Appreciating what goes on behind the scenes when lab orders are placed beyond just the result can definitely make a more rounded physician. Pathologists do far more than exclusively work with the deceased, as is a common misconception, with autopsies often being a minor aspect of the career. Shadowing a pathologist for a day or coming to some of the events of the Pathology Interest Group is a great way to learn a little of the daily activities of a pathologist, and something I can’t recommend enough! Pathology is definitely a hidden gem in medicine.