Improving medical student engagement in pathology through early exposure, digital tools, and mentorship

Interest in pathology among U.S. medical students has declined in part due to limited curricular exposure, persistent misconceptions, and structural shifts in medical education overall contributing to projected workforce shortages. This manuscript presents a strategic educational framework synthesizing barriers to recruitment and evaluates outreach strategies aimed at strengthening the pathology pipeline. This review identified several interrelated factors influencing pathology recruitment, including early exposure, longitudinal mentorship, digital engagement, misconception-correcting interventions, and structural curricular barriers. Outreach models including post-sophomore fellowships, virtual electives, and targeted digital initiatives demonstrate potential to improve visibility and student interest. Strengthening the pathology workforce requires coordinated, early, and sustained educational strategies that integrate mentorship, scalable digital tools, and structured exposure.