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Some of my most useful dermatology consults don’t happen in the OPD. They happen leaning over a microscope in the pathology department at Father Muller, or over a quick phone call that starts with, “Sir, just one doubt…”
That, to me, is what defines the Gen Z pathologist—not just their knowledge, but their approachability.
Not Just Reports—People You Can Walk Up To
In training, pathology often felt distant. You sent a biopsy, waited, and received a report that you interpreted on your own. It was efficient, but impersonal.
That’s changed.
Today, I can walk into the department, sometimes unannounced, sometimes mid-chaos, and still be welcomed into a conversation. Slides are pulled out again. Opinions are revisited. There’s no hesitation in saying, “Let’s look at it together.”
There’s a certain ease now—less hierarchy, more honesty. You don’t feel like you’re “disturbing” someone. You feel like you’re continuing a conversation.
The Calls That Change Decisions
In dermatology, a small histological nuance can change everything.
A borderline lichenoid pattern. Early vasculitis. A granuloma that doesn’t quite fit.
These are not always things that sit comfortably inside a report. And that’s where the Gen Z pathologist stands out—they pick up the phone.
Or reply instantly when you send that slightly blurry photomicrograph on WhatsApp.
Or simply say, “Clinically what are you thinking?” —and genuinely wait for your answer.
Those small interactions often change management more than the report itself.
Seeing What They See
One thing I’ve come to appreciate is how willing younger pathologists are to show rather than just tell.
A quick photomicrograph. A marked area. A side-by-side comparison.
For someone dealing with skin clinically, this is invaluable. It connects the dots between what I see with my eyes and what they see under the microscope. Over time, you start thinking more like each other.
And that’s when the real learning happens.
What They Do For Me
They anchor my uncertainty.
When a rash doesn’t read like a textbook, when patterns overlap, when treatment isn’t straightforward—it’s their interpretation that steadies the course. Not just by giving a diagnosis, but by explaining how they arrived there.
And sometimes, just by saying, “This doesn’t fit cleanly. Let’s keep an open mind.”
That honesty is underrated.
What I Try to Do For Them
This relationship works both ways.
I’ve learned that a good biopsy is only half the job. The rest is the story you send with it.
A rushed requisition form leads to a guarded report. A thoughtful clinical note often brings out a far more confident interpretation.
Choosing the right lesion, the right site, the right timing—that’s my responsibility.
And closing the loop matters too. Going back and saying, “This is how the patient responded, ” or “That diagnosis held up” —those conversations complete the cycle.
Why Father Muller Makes This Possible
There’s something about the setup here.
Maybe it’s the physical proximity. Maybe it’s the culture. But departments don’t feel like separate entities. You don’t need an appointment to have a discussion.
And the Gen Z pathologist fits perfectly into this system—curious, accessible, and open to collaboration.
Approachability here isn’t an added quality. It’s the default.
Where This Is Going
If this is what the next generation of pathologists looks like, it’s a reassuring direction.
More conversations. Less hesitation. Better correlation.
For me, pathology is no longer a “report I wait for.” It’s a dialogue I rely on.
And more often than not, it starts with something simple-
“Can we just look at this together?”
Dr. Rahul S. Nayak
Dr. Rahul S. Nayak
MBBS, MD, DNB (Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy)
Consultant Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician
Father Muller Medical College & Hospital
MIDAS Skin Clinic
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