Women now make up a majority of recently certified pathologists in the United States, but several racial and ethnic groups remain markedly underrepresented in the specialty, according to a new workforce analysis published in Academic Pathology.
Researchers analyzed demographic data from the American Board of Pathology covering more than 39,000 board-certified pathologists from the board’s founding through 2024. The study focused primarily on pathologists certified since 2006, when continuing certification requirements were introduced and demographic data became more complete.
The findings show substantial progress in gender representation. Among active pathologists certified since 2006, 53 percent identified as female, compared with 27 percent of pathologists certified before 2006. The trend mirrors broader changes in US medical education, where women now account for roughly half of medical school entrants.
Despite these gains, the authors found that diversity remains uneven across pathology practice areas. Female representation was lower among pathologists certified in clinical pathology only, where women accounted for 39 percent of practitioners, compared with 52 percent in anatomic pathology and 54 percent among those certified in both disciplines. Clinical informatics showed the largest gender imbalance among subspecialties, with women representing just 25 percent of active practitioners.
The study also identified persistent racial and ethnic disparities. Among active pathologists certified since 2006, 62 percent identified as White and 27 percent as Asian. By contrast, only 4 percent identified as Black or African American, 0.2 percent as American Indian or Alaska Native, and 8 percent as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin. For comparison, Black Americans represent about 14 percent of the US population and Hispanic Americans about 20 percent.
The authors estimated that American Indian and Alaska Native individuals are underrepresented in pathology by approximately sevenfold, while Black and Hispanic groups remain represented at less than half the levels expected based on national population figures.
The analysis found no evidence that women are leaving the profession at higher rates than men. Instead, the findings suggest that recruitment into pathology has become more diverse over time, while longstanding disparities in racial and ethnic representation persist. The authors conclude that continued efforts to recruit, retain, mentor, and advance pathologists from underrepresented groups will be needed to create a workforce that more closely reflects the patients it serves.
Lead researcher Aanand Patel, from the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, says, "Diversity makes our field stronger and allows us to provide better care for our patients. Our field has become more diverse, particularly with respect to women, but we still have farther to go to ensure that women and people of color have equitable opportunities to advance in pathology. We need to continue recruiting medical students and residents from diverse backgrounds and support them throughout their careers."
Newsletters
Receive the latest pathologist news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.
