The 2021 Bartlett address – Find your niche

Who am I?

I spent most of my career as a practicing veterinary anatomic pathologist on faculty at the Veterinary College at Cornell University. During this time, I developed a keen interest in diseases that involve reproductive organs of domestic animals. A substantial amount of my time was spent as the pathologist-in-charge of the surgical pathology or necropsy pathology services of the NY State Diagnostic Laboratory.

What a fantastic position to be in; what more could one possibly hope for? For over 30 years, colleagues from around the country and occasionally from around the world would send us tissues and carcasses from cases they had worked up. They were seeking help. The needed answers. That was our job as diagnosticians, to give them answers. But the selfish reality is that we had all this material, all these cases given to us for study and use in our teaching, research and training programs. Such a gift, such an opportunity. To paraphrase: if you build a... if you provide a service, the cases will come (my field of dreams). The more cases, the greater our expe- rience became and the better we got at providing answers.

The formula was simple: offer a service (providing answers), express enthusiasm, do good work, be timely, and relish the opportunities you are presented with. A great place to find and to established a niche. You are known by your work. You are known by the niche you occupy. ...