Multipolar Neuropathology: Survival Strategies for Professional Loneliness

Abstract The field of neuropathology has a rich history with strong ties to the clinical fields of neurosurgery and neurology. Until the mid-20th century, neuropathology was an apprenticeship in these fields after which it became a subspecialty within the field of pathology. Neuropathology remains a small subspecialty, encompassing only 2% of the actively practicing pathologists in the United States, which lends to the professional loneliness that may occur with neuropathologists. This review offers a guide that covers the most important aspects of a neuropathology practice, including the use of telepathology in a neuropathology practice, the most important aspects of intraoperative evaluation of surgical neuropathology specimens, fellowship training, and the role of neuropathologists in forensic pathology.