{"id":{"repo_id":"houston","oai_identifier":"oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/19618"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/houston/oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/19618","repository":{"repo_id":"houston","name":"University of Houston","base_url":"https://uh-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"A Grounded Theory of Pathologists’ Assistants Professional Identity Formation","abstract":"Background: Pathologists' Assistants (PathAs) are vital members of surgical and autopsy pathology teams. Professional identity formation is critical in healthcare, as misalignment between self-perception and external recognition can lead to dissatisfaction, burnout, and limited career progression. Prior research suggests that professional identity strongly influences career sustainability. With over 60% of PathAs certified for less than ten years, sustainability is increasingly important in this high-demand field amid workforce shortages. Purpose: This study explores how PathAs form their professional identity by examining tensions between their self-perception and external recognition. These dynamics may be shared by other allied health or emerging professions. Findings offer implications for PathA education, workplace culture, and workforce policy. Methods: A qualitative grounded theory approach was used, incorporating semi-structured interviews with 11 practicing PathAs. Interview questions addressed educational experiences, clinical training, mentorship, workplace culture, and perceived roles within healthcare settings. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods to generate themes and theoretical insights on PathA identity formation. Results: Key influences on professional identity development included education, mentorship, workplace culture, and institutional visibility. Participants expressed a strong internal identity rooted in diagnostic expertise and commitment to patient care, yet also described feeling undervalued or misunderstood within broader healthcare systems. Challenges included limited career advancement, lack of billing autonomy, and minimal representation in interdisciplinary forums. Mentorship and inclusion in institutional structures—such as tumor boards or interdepartmental initiatives—were identified as critical to fostering confidence, professional growth, and long-term retention. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for structural and cultural changes to support PathA professional identity. Strengthening mentorship, expanding leadership opportunities, increasing institutional visibility, and advocating for billing and licensure reform are essential to advancing the profession. This study contributes to a broader understanding of professional identity construction in mid-level healthcare roles and provides practical guidance to improve workforce development, satisfaction, and recognition within pathology.","abstract_html":"Background: Pathologists' Assistants (PathAs) are vital members of surgical and autopsy pathology teams. Professional identity formation is critical in healthcare, as misalignment between self-perception and external recognition can lead to dissatisfaction, burnout, and limited career progression. Prior research suggests that professional identity strongly influences career sustainability. With over 60% of PathAs certified for less than ten years, sustainability is increasingly important in this high-demand field amid workforce shortages. Purpose: This study explores how PathAs form their professional identity by examining tensions between their self-perception and external recognition. These dynamics may be shared by other allied health or emerging professions. Findings offer implications for PathA education, workplace culture, and workforce policy. Methods: A qualitative grounded theory approach was used, incorporating semi-structured interviews with 11 practicing PathAs. Interview questions addressed educational experiences, clinical training, mentorship, workplace culture, and perceived roles within healthcare settings. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods to generate themes and theoretical insights on PathA identity formation. Results: Key influences on professional identity development included education, mentorship, workplace culture, and institutional visibility. Participants expressed a strong internal identity rooted in diagnostic expertise and commitment to patient care, yet also described feeling undervalued or misunderstood within broader healthcare systems. Challenges included limited career advancement, lack of billing autonomy, and minimal representation in interdisciplinary forums. Mentorship and inclusion in institutional structures—such as tumor boards or interdepartmental initiatives—were identified as critical to fostering confidence, professional growth, and long-term retention. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for structural and cultural changes to support PathA professional identity. Strengthening mentorship, expanding leadership opportunities, increasing institutional visibility, and advocating for billing and licensure reform are essential to advancing the profession. This study contributes to a broader understanding of professional identity construction in mid-level healthcare roles and provides practical guidance to improve workforce development, satisfaction, and recognition within pathology.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Williamson, Leah Greene 1988-"],"institution":"University of Houston","degree_name":"Doctor of Education","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Professional Leadership, Health Science Education","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["McNeil, Sara","Hausmann, Robert"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Eldin, Karen","Thomas, Dustine","McCluskey, Kristine"],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-05","date_published":"2025-05","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:32:12Z","subjects":["Educational leadership"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10657/19618","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["McNeil, Sara","Hausmann, Robert"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Eldin, Karen","Thomas, Dustine","McCluskey, Kristine"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Williamson, Leah Greene 1988-"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-10T19:30:31Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-05"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Professional Leadership, Health Science Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Education"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Houston"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Educational leadership"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10657/19618"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: Pathologists' Assistants (PathAs) are vital members of surgical and autopsy pathology teams. Professional identity formation is critical in healthcare, as misalignment between self-perception and external recognition can lead to dissatisfaction, burnout, and limited career progression. Prior research suggests that professional identity strongly influences career sustainability. With over 60% of PathAs certified for less than ten years, sustainability is increasingly important in this high-demand field amid workforce shortages. Purpose: This study explores how PathAs form their professional identity by examining tensions between their self-perception and external recognition. These dynamics may be shared by other allied health or emerging professions. Findings offer implications for PathA education, workplace culture, and workforce policy. Methods: A qualitative grounded theory approach was used, incorporating semi-structured interviews with 11 practicing PathAs. Interview questions addressed educational experiences, clinical training, mentorship, workplace culture, and perceived roles within healthcare settings. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods to generate themes and theoretical insights on PathA identity formation. Results: Key influences on professional identity development included education, mentorship, workplace culture, and institutional visibility. Participants expressed a strong internal identity rooted in diagnostic expertise and commitment to patient care, yet also described feeling undervalued or misunderstood within broader healthcare systems. Challenges included limited career advancement, lack of billing autonomy, and minimal representation in interdisciplinary forums. Mentorship and inclusion in institutional structures—such as tumor boards or interdepartmental initiatives—were identified as critical to fostering confidence, professional growth, and long-term retention. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for structural and cultural changes to support PathA professional identity. Strengthening mentorship, expanding leadership opportunities, increasing institutional visibility, and advocating for billing and licensure reform are essential to advancing the profession. This study contributes to a broader understanding of professional identity construction in mid-level healthcare roles and provides practical guidance to improve workforce development, satisfaction, and recognition within pathology."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Grounded Theory of Pathologists’ Assistants Professional Identity Formation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["McNeil, Sara","Hausmann, Robert"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Eldin, Karen","Thomas, Dustine","McCluskey, Kristine"],"dc:creator":["Williamson, Leah Greene 1988-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-07-10T19:30:31Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-05"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: Pathologists' Assistants (PathAs) are vital members of surgical and autopsy pathology teams. Professional identity formation is critical in healthcare, as misalignment between self-perception and external recognition can lead to dissatisfaction, burnout, and limited career progression. Prior research suggests that professional identity strongly influences career sustainability. With over 60% of PathAs certified for less than ten years, sustainability is increasingly important in this high-demand field amid workforce shortages. Purpose: This study explores how PathAs form their professional identity by examining tensions between their self-perception and external recognition. These dynamics may be shared by other allied health or emerging professions. Findings offer implications for PathA education, workplace culture, and workforce policy. Methods: A qualitative grounded theory approach was used, incorporating semi-structured interviews with 11 practicing PathAs. Interview questions addressed educational experiences, clinical training, mentorship, workplace culture, and perceived roles within healthcare settings. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods to generate themes and theoretical insights on PathA identity formation. Results: Key influences on professional identity development included education, mentorship, workplace culture, and institutional visibility. Participants expressed a strong internal identity rooted in diagnostic expertise and commitment to patient care, yet also described feeling undervalued or misunderstood within broader healthcare systems. Challenges included limited career advancement, lack of billing autonomy, and minimal representation in interdisciplinary forums. Mentorship and inclusion in institutional structures—such as tumor boards or interdepartmental initiatives—were identified as critical to fostering confidence, professional growth, and long-term retention. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for structural and cultural changes to support PathA professional identity. Strengthening mentorship, expanding leadership opportunities, increasing institutional visibility, and advocating for billing and licensure reform are essential to advancing the profession. This study contributes to a broader understanding of professional identity construction in mid-level healthcare roles and provides practical guidance to improve workforce development, satisfaction, and recognition within pathology."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10657/19618"],"dc:language.iso":["English"],"dc:subject":["Educational leadership"],"dc:title":["A Grounded Theory of Pathologists’ Assistants Professional Identity Formation"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Professional Leadership, Health Science Education"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Education"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Houston"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:32:12Z"}