Dr Raimundo Geronimo Junior is President of the Brazilian Society of Pathology (SBP). A passionate advocate for medical education, he actively contributes to pathology education through governmental channels and social media, inspiring a new generation of pathologists across Brazil and beyond.
Here, he joins Ivan Damjanov to discuss Brazilian pathology, the opportunities and challenges facing the specialty, and his vision for its future.
What inspired you to become a pathologist?
I grew up in a family where pathology was part of everyday life. My father was one of the pioneering pathologists in my state in northeastern Brazil, and from an early age I witnessed his dedication to the specialty.
While still in medical school, I began spending time in the laboratory and participating in the diagnostic workflow. What fascinated me most was seeing how a tissue sample could reveal critical information about a disease and directly influence clinical decision-making.
As my training progressed, I came to appreciate pathology's unique role within medicine. Few specialties offer such a comprehensive understanding of disease while also playing such a central role in guiding patient management.
It was this combination of scientific inquiry, diagnostic reasoning, and meaningful contribution to patient care that ultimately led me to pursue pathology as my career.
How has pathology changed since the beginning of your career?
The greatest change has been seeing how central pathology has become to modern medicine.
When I began my training, many still viewed the specialty as primarily laboratory-based. Today, pathologists are integral to clinical decision-making, particularly in oncology, precision medicine, and multidisciplinary care.
I have also witnessed remarkable technological advances. Immunohistochemistry, molecular diagnostics, digital pathology, and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed the specialty.
Although morphology remains the foundation of pathology, it is now complemented by a range of advanced diagnostic tools that have greatly expanded our ability to diagnose disease, guide treatment selection, and support patient management.
Why did you decide to become President of the SBP?
I accepted this challenge because I believe Brazilian pathology is at a pivotal moment in its evolution.
Having spent my entire professional career in northeastern Brazil, I have witnessed firsthand the specialty's progress as well as the challenges of training the next generation of pathologists, adopting new technologies, and expanding access to high-quality diagnostic services.
Through my involvement with the SBP, I also came to appreciate the organization's vital role in promoting diagnostic excellence, advancing continuing medical education, and supporting the development of pathology nationwide.
When the opportunity arose to serve as president, I felt I could help prepare Brazilian pathology for a future shaped by digital transformation, AI, precision medicine, and closer integration with clinical care.
More than a leadership position, I see the presidency as an opportunity to give back to the specialty that has inspired me for more than two decades.
What are your main strategic goals for SBP?
Preparing Brazilian pathology for the future is one of our highest priorities. Equally important is strengthening the recognition and value of pathologists within modern health care.
As medicine becomes increasingly driven by biomarkers, molecular diagnostics, precision medicine, and AI, pathologists play an ever more central role in clinical decision-making. Our goal is to ensure that Brazilian pathologists are equipped for this transformation while receiving the professional recognition it deserves.
To support this, the SBP has made continuing education a strategic priority, with programs focused on digital pathology, AI, molecular diagnostics, quality systems, and precision medicine. One example is SBP Digital, which uses digital slides for education and case discussions, enabling pathologists across Brazil to gain experience with digital diagnostic workflows.
Attracting future pathologists is another major priority. Through SBP Inspira (SBP Inspires), we introduce future physicians to modern pathology and the wide range of career opportunities within the specialty.
What have you achieved in your presidency so far?
One of our most encouraging achievements has been the strong engagement of both practicing pathologists and medical students. With nearly one month remaining before our national congress in Salvador, Bahia, more than 350 medical students have already secured their registration – the highest number in the event's history. We see this as a clear indication that pathology is once again being recognized as an innovative and rewarding career.
What are the greatest challenges facing Brazilian pathology?
The greatest challenge is ensuring that advances in diagnostic medicine benefit the entire population.
Brazil is a country of continental dimensions with significant regional disparities. Although many regions have highly developed pathology centers, important differences remain in the distribution of specialists and access to advanced diagnostic technologies.
Workforce renewal is another priority. Like many countries, Brazil faces the challenge of attracting and training enough pathologists to meet future demand.
Digital pathology has made steady progress, although adoption still varies among regions and institutions. The next challenge is ensuring that digital pathology, molecular diagnostics, and AI are implemented sustainably and equitably across the country. This will require continued investment in infrastructure, professional training, system validation, data security, and regulation. The SBP has therefore made education in digital pathology, AI, and diagnostic innovation a strategic priority.
I believe AI will enhance – not replace – the work of pathologists by improving efficiency, supporting diagnostic accuracy, and streamlining workflows. The future will belong to those who successfully combine technological innovation with sound medical judgment.
You mentioned workforce concerns – is Brazil facing a shortage of pathologists?
According to the most recent Medical Demographics report, Brazil has approximately 4,400 active pathologists – the largest pathology workforce in South America. However, for a population of more than 215 million people, this remains insufficient, and specialists are unevenly distributed across the country.
Expanding and renewing the workforce is therefore a major priority for the SBP. One challenge is that many medical students have limited exposure to pathology during their training and are unfamiliar with its central role in diagnosis and patient care.
To address this, we have invested in initiatives such as SBP Inspira, laboratory visits, mentoring opportunities, and greater student participation in scientific meetings.
These efforts are already producing encouraging results. We have recorded the highest number of medical student registrations in the history of our national congress, giving us confidence that pathology is once again being recognized as a dynamic and rewarding career.
What role do you see telepathology playing in improving access to pathology services across Brazil?
Telepathology has the potential to become one of the most transformative tools for countries with large geographic territories such as Brazil. It enables remote regions to connect with specialized centers, expands access to expert consultations and second opinions, and helps reduce disparities in access to high-quality diagnostic services.
Challenges remain, including infrastructure, connectivity, interoperable, sustainable funding, and appropriate regulation. However, continued advances in digital pathology are making widespread implementation increasingly achievable.
I believe telepathology will play a strategic role in Brazil by improving access to specialist diagnostics, strengthening collaboration among pathologists, supporting continuing medical education, and helping build a more integrated national diagnostic network.
How can molecular pathology be democratized?
Precision medicine will achieve its full potential only when molecular diagnostics become accessible to more patients.
Although Brazil has made significant advances, access remains concentrated in major urban centers. Expanding availability will require investment in infrastructure, workforce training, collaborative diagnostic networks, and public policies that support high-quality molecular testing.
Reducing these disparities is one of the greatest opportunities to expand precision medicine and improve equity in health care.
Pathology is often called the “invisible specialty.” How can the SBP increase the visibility and perceived value of pathologists?
I often say that pathology is invisible only to those who do not understand modern medicine. Today, virtually every cancer diagnosis depends on the work of a pathologist. We identify and classify disease, evaluate predictive and prognostic biomarkers, and provide the diagnostic information that guides therapeutic decisions.
Much of our work, however, takes place behind the scenes. As a result, many patients – and even some healthcare professionals – are not fully aware of the breadth of our contribution to diagnosis and treatment.
Changing that perception is one of the SBP’s strategic priorities. We have invested in communication, public engagement, and educational initiatives while strengthening our dialogue with medical students, physicians, policymakers, and the broader medical community.
As medicine becomes increasingly driven by molecular diagnostics and precision medicine, greater recognition of pathologists is essential. Precision medicine is only possible because of the quality, accuracy, and expertise behind every pathology diagnosis.
How does the SBP collaborate with international pathology organizations?
International collaboration is essential to advancing pathology.
The SBP maintains partnerships with several international scientific organizations to promote knowledge exchange, joint educational initiatives, and collaboration in strategic areas of the specialty.
These partnerships help ensure that Brazilian pathologists remain aligned with global best practices while also increasing the international visibility of pathology in Brazil.
As digital pathology, AI, and precision medicine continue to evolve, international cooperation will become even more important for accelerating innovation and improving diagnostic practice worldwide.
If you had an unlimited budget for the SBP for one year, what initiative would you fund immediately?
I would invest in quality because that is at the heart of the Society's mission: to provide technical, scientific, and professional leadership in pathology and to be recognised as the leading reference for pathology in Latin America.
With unlimited resources, I would expand accreditation programs so that every pathology laboratory in Brazil – regardless of size or location – has access to internal and external quality control, proficiency testing, accreditation support, and expert technical guidance. This would include fully subsidising participation in programmes like PICQ, PACQ, and PPCQ for laboratories that cannot currently afford them, extending accreditation support to more services, and increasing investment in education through initiatives such as the Fórum de Ensino de Patologia and academic leagues to help train the next generation of pathologists.
Ultimately, investing in quality is the most effective way to fulfil the SBP's mission. By ensuring consistently high standards across Brazil, the Society can strengthen diagnostic excellence, support better-informed treatment decisions, and improve patient outcomes while reinforcing its position as a leading reference for pathology across Latin America.
What is your main message to young physicians who are still uncertain about choosing pathology as a specialty?
My advice is simple: experience pathology firsthand before making your career decision.
Visit a laboratory, observe the diagnostic workflow, and talk to practicing pathologists. Many medical students have a limited or outdated perception of the specialty that does not reflect the reality of modern pathology.
Today, pathology combines science, technology, precision medicine, AI, and multidisciplinary collaboration, while playing a central role in patient care. As medicine continues to evolve, the specialty will become even more integral to diagnosis and clinical decision-making.
For anyone who enjoys diagnostic reasoning, lifelong learning, and understanding disease mechanisms, pathology offers an intellectually stimulating and deeply rewarding career. Every diagnosis helps guide patient care, making pathology one of the most impactful specialties in modern medicine.
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