Understanding difficulty in transitioning from residency to independent practice in pathology

A web-based survey of 118 pathologists was used to determine the incidence of difficulty transitioning from residency to independent practice. The underlying themes associated with difficulty were further explored through semi-structured interviews with 11 pathologists. Sixty percent of pathologists reported difficulty transitioning to practice. The most commonly reported reason for difficulty was fear of making mistakes. Patterns to understand difficulty, as well as pathways for mitigation, were explored through the semi-structured interviews.