407 The Current State of the US Pathology Workforce: A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction/Objective This review assesses the current state of the US pathology workforce by synthesizing demographic, economic, educational and professional trends in the United States from relevant publications and literature between 2001 to 2025. Understanding workforce dynamics is critical as the strained pathologist workforce faces increasing demands and rapid advancements in digital technologies. Methods/Case Report A systematic literature review including AMA and AAMC dashboard data, CAP reports and NRMP match statistics was conducted to evaluate workforce demographic metrics, current issues and future challenges for the field. Tableau was used to visualize workforce trends and gaps. Results Active pathologists increased from 17,400 in 2004 to over 21,000 in 2024. However, a growing proportion of pathologists are nearing retirement, outpacing the rate of new trainees. Geographic disparities and low public recognition of pathologists persist. Tableau dashboards were developed to visualize geographic distribution, age structure, and pipeline trends. Conclusion A pathology workforce infographic and career one-pager, derived from this review, will serve as educational resources for outreach to pre-med and medical students. ASCP will use these materials to support next-generation pathologist recruitment and inform future workforce policy and planning. These findings underscore the need for data standardization, policy development, and technological adoption to sustain a responsive pathology workforce.