People of Pathology Podcast

Pathology observerships offer a unique opportunity for medical students and recent graduates to gain firsthand experience and insights into the dynamic field of pathology. These structured programs provide participants with the chance to observe experienced pathologists at work, learn about various laboratory techniques, and understand the diagnostic process involved in analyzing tissue specimens....

Pathologists' Assistant Marissa Spencer returns to the podcast and we take a deep dive into the concept of teaching "why" vs teaching "how." Understanding the Why: Marissa emphasized the significance of not just memorizing steps but truly understanding the rationale behind each action in pathology. By grasping the "why" behind the procedures, learners can apply their knowledge effectively to diffe...

My guests today are Elizabeth Wingard and Dr Dave Wilbur from Corista. Liz and Dr. Wilbur discussed the evolution of digital pathology and the need for open systems in the field. This goal was realized with Corista's Digital Pathology Processing Platform (DP3). They shared insights into their backgrounds and how they got involved in healthcare technology and pathology. The conversation touched on...

Mateo Lopez is Director of Customer Success at Vistapath. In this episode we discuss the future of AI in pathology grossing.  Mateo shares his journey from PA to industry, the founding story of Vistapath, and the innovative Sentinel grossing station. We talk about how the Sentinel uses AI to streamline grossing, improve accuracy, and enhance the pathology workflow.  Finally, we discuss how PAs and...

In this episode, David West discusses Proscia's recent 510K clearance for Concentric AP-Dx software. The conversation delves into the significance of 510 k clearance, explaining its role in regulatory approval for medical devices. David highlights the company's global success and previous clearances in Europe, offering insights into the journey of bringing innovative software to laboratories world...

Dr. Aleksandra Zuraw returns to the podcast to discuss her new book, Digital Pathology 101: All You Need to Know to Start and Continue Your Digital Pathology Journey. The book is not only meant as an introduction to digital pathology, but also as a valuable resource for those who already have some knowledge of the field. It covers a wide range of topics, from digital pathology milestones and the b...

On this episode Dr Rodney Rohde discusses his involvement with the ASCP's Blueprint for Action to address workforce shortages in the laboratory. He highlights the efforts of various organizations to create solutions and improve the situation, emphasizing that the workforce challenges existed prior to COVID-19 but were exacerbated by the pandemic.  Dr. Rohde explains the importance of aligning titl...

Jeff Rhude is the VP of Technical Operations at Proscia.  Today we discuss the use of cloud-based technologies in digital pathology. Cloud-based storage offers significant advantages over traditional on-premises solutions in the field of digital pathology. The episode highlights several key benefits that make cloud storage a compelling choice for storing sensitive patient data and large image file...

The MyPathologyReport website was created by Dr. Jason Wasserman, a pathologist, with the goal of providing patients with a better understanding of their pathology reports. Dr. Wasserman recognized the need for patients to have access to clear and concise information about their diagnosis. Initially, the website started with a glossary of common pathology terms, such as atypia, dysplasia, and marg...

In this episode, Olivia Josephsen and I take you step by step through how to get shadowing opportunities. While this is about pathologists assistants, these tips can be used in any laboratory profession.   We explain how to find someone to shadow, and how to contact them.  While shadowing, it is important to ask questions, and we tell you why.   After shadowing you should follow up with the person...

In this podcast episode, I speak with Katie Maloney, a principal at DeciBio, a precision medicine consulting company. We discuss the importance of partnerships in driving innovation and adoption in the field of digital pathology. Katie explains that partnerships are crucial in addressing the complexity and interoperability challenges in digital pathology, as well as meeting the needs of different...

Amanda Coble is a pathologists' assistant with a diverse career path. After completing her education, she worked as a pathologists' assistant and also took on management activities, such as designing a new anatomic pathology laboratory space and participating in the selection and implementation of a new laboratory information system (LIS). Her experience in managing the LIS led her to explore a ca...

Susan Stillman recently became the program director of the new Pathologist Assistant Program at Carroll University. In this episode, we discuss Susan's background and how she became interested in the field of pathology. We also talk about her transition into teaching and the process of starting a pathologist assistant program. Susan shares her thoughts on the future of the field and the importance...

Dr Lisa Monetti is a Forensic Anthropologist and Bioarcaeologist specializing in the analysis of burned and cremated remains.  Today we talk about some of the overlap of methods between these two fields.  Dr Monetti tries to make these methods more accessible, in order to create a more diverse field.  She discusses the importance of collaboration, and gives some examples of this from her own caree...

Casey Wahl is Senior Product Manager for Core Platform and AI at Proscia. She has been working in the digital pathology space since 2019. We discuss the innovation boom happening in pathology and the benefits of going digital. Casey talks about the increasing importance of artificial intelligence in pathology, as it enables faster analysis and new workflows for precision medicine.  This episode hi...

Dr Tracy Davis is a Dermatopathologist and Certified Professional Coach.  Today we discuss her career path into pathology and dermatopathology.  She also tells us about a few of her interests in pathology, including digital pathology, AI, mentoring, and teaching.  Dr Davis explains how working with a coach was a transformative experience for her, and inspired her to become a coach herself.  We dis...

Sarah Sabatino is the anatomy labs program manager at Drexel University's medical school. She also works as a per diem autopsy technician for three local counties and is involved in the body donor program. In this role she serves as a liaison with families and helps manage the distribution of donated cadavers to medical and dental schools. Sarah has a masters degree in forensic medicine and has a...

Dr David Klimstra is a Pathologist, Chief Medical Officer and Cofounder of Paige.  Today we will learn about his career path and motivation to become a doctor, and his interest in GI pathology. We will also talk about the evolution of subspecialization in pathology, the benefits and drawbacks of subspecialization, and the importance of understanding how diagnoses impact patient treatment. The epis...

Today my guest is Pathologist Dr Sheela Upreti Dr Upreti is the author of From Specimen to Sign Out, Anatomic Pathology Explained, which aims to provide accessible and helpful information for health professionals, including junior pathology residents, as well as potentially benefiting patients. She discusses her experience and insights on the role of pathologists in multidisciplinary meetings, emp...

Today my guest is Pathology Resident Dr Casey Schukow We discuss the challenges of balancing personal and professional life in the healthcare field. Dr Schukow emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's needs and learning to compartmentalize. He also reflect on his decision to pursue pathology as a career and the fulfillment he has found in this work. Dr Schukow also talks about his experience...

Dr Bilal Ahmad is the managing director of the Spectrum Healthcare Partners Pathology Division.  He has been using digital technology for ancillary testing, such as TCPC FISH, flow cytometry, and IHC interpretation for many years. As a managing director, Dr Ahmad is now leading the digital pathology initiative and trying to steer the ship in the right direction. He believes that digital pathology...

Today my guest is Pathologist Dr Richard Levenson We discuss his career path so far, including how he discovered pathology.  Dr Levenson talks about his work in slide free imaging, which he started doing early in his career.  Slide free imaging has the potential to significantly decrease turnaround time, while providing more information than the standard H&E slide.  We also talk about the use of A...

Today my guest is Pathologist Dr Tom Grogan Dr. Grogan is the founder of Ventana and the author of Chasing the Invisible: A Doctor's Quest to Abolish the Last Unseen Cancer Cell. He talks about his journey in both pathology and business, as well as his upbringing and living in countries going through revolutions. He developed the first automated IHC stainer due to a realization of the need for suc...

Today my guest is Pathologist Dr Derek Welch  What we discuss with Dr Welch: Why he chose medical school and how he discovered pathology How he joined PathGroup and his current role as Chief Medical Officer The collaboration between PathGroup and Proscia His thoughts on the future of artificial intelligence in pathology How pathology data can be used in precision medicine and why pathologists shou...

Today my guest is Veterinary Pathologist Dr Aleksandra Zuraw What we discuss with Dr Zuraw: How digital pathology has advanced over the last two years The online event, Bridging the Gap Between Pathology and Computer Science Why it is important for pathologists to be involved in digital pathology development Her new course Pathology 101 for Tissue Image Analysis What she thinks will be next in dig...