Come on... this line is a bit of hyperbole, no? While I agree pathology present a satisfying array of intellectual stimulation, to say it's unparalleled is a bit insulting thousands of other highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals, within medicine, law, engineering, public health, public policy, and lots of other fields.
It's interesting how many threads on here over the last few years rapidly devolve into the same topic, and there's 3 camps as I see it:
1) Pathology is horrible and should be avoided at all costs.
2) Pathology is the greatest profession ever and should be pursued by every medical student.
3) Pathology is an interesting and satisfying career with some real challenges facing the field in the next generation.
I firmly believe the 3rd situation is the accurate one, and think we (practicing pathologists) owe it to the field and to med students who read this form to be truthful and accurate.
I do not think it is hyperbole.
Based on my experiences working as
Intelligence analyst for the National Security Agency
Sargent in the Air Force
Computer programmer
Furniture mover
Developing public policies regarding research and healthcare reform
Teaching at college, graduate, and medical schools
and my extensive contact consulting and collaborating with
Multiple physician groups
Business analysts
Lawyers
Pharmaceutical industry liaisons
Physicians who left other disciplines to train in pathology
My opinion is still that the intellectual opportunities as a pathologist are unparalleled.
However, I have never played a musical instrument or a sport at an elite level, so it is possible that other disciplines have more intellectual stimulation.
One of the things that has been very enjoyable is that pathology training allows one to participate and lead in multiple venues with relative ease. There may be other professions that allow easy portability of skills, but pathology training gave me this opportunity.
To be fair, this opinion is based on my experiences and may not be true for others. And while I have worked as a furniture mover that job is not really in the same category as the others.