Pathologists Overseas

External Quality Assessment - The EQA program provides laboratories in low- and middle-income countries with access to a key component of quality assurance and supports their efforts to build and sustain systems for accurate and reliable patient testing. In 2025 22 laboratories across nine African countries participated in RCPAQAP proficiency testing surveys for Clinical Chemistry and Tumor Markers. The Pathologists Overseas team provides consistent support through meetings structured investigation forms performance summaries and access to subject matter experts. By using EQA as a measurable and independent system of quality assessment labs can identify weaknesses correct errors and strengthen internal systems. This data empowers laboratories to approach hospital leadership and advocate for resources to address persistent challenges. EQA is cost prohibitive in most low-resource settings so access to these materials and the provision of support and guidance through the self-evaluation process has a meaningful impact.

The PaLMEd program expands access to free high-quality continuing education for pathologists and laboratory professionals in low- and middle-income countries. The program helps strengthen laboratory systems and improve the accuracy and reliability of results through knowledge transfer in key areas of pathology and laboratory practice management and leadership. Through digital platforms and our global volunteer network Pathologists Overseas provide multilingual pre-recorded and live training sessions that make learning accessible interactive and sustainable. In settings where internet access is limited our on demand content allows learners to study at their own pace while live sessions promote discussion and engagement. In FY 2024 we partnered with Fundacion Garrahan to hold a Spanish-language laboratory quality management systems course for anatomic pathologists in Latin America. This course included 18 hours of lecture and small group discussion content. We received 72 registrants from 7 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean.