In future we must act as consultants turning data into clinically meaningful information and providing valuable advice. We should project this consultant image when teaching both pathology and clinical residents. As hospital activities become more program-based, we should insert ourselves in our consultant role into programs in a proactive fashion and at every opportunity. Laboratory physicians should not be just recipients of news within the institution but the generators of it. We should invite ourselves to the table and make sure we are included in all important activities and events.
Participation is the key.
We must engage in highly focused activity, invest our time in professional organizations, and make contacts with members of hospital boards, administrators, etc., in a highly goal-oriented way. We should make ourselves indispensable and assure that our colleagues know that we are indispensable. We should seek every opportunity to be part of clinical rounds and interact with clinical colleagues to maintain our profile. When asked to present at a conference at the last moment we should welcome the opportunity and not feel imposed upon. We must participate in management conferences.