People of Pathology Podcast
Episodes
Episode 220: Dr Lija Joseph – Seeing Patients Not Just Slides: The Power Of The Patient Pathology Clinic
Today my guest is pathologist Dr Lija Joseph.
What we discuss with Dr Joseph:
- Her early influences and path into medicine
- How she discovered pathology and what drew her to the field
- The inspiration behind founding a patient-focused pathology clinic
- How the clinic bridges pathology, empathy, and patient understanding
- Patient stories that illustrate the clinic’s impact
- Empowering patients through transparency and education
- Maintaining human connection in a technology-driven field
- The role of empathy in modern pathology practice
- Future directions for patient engagement in pathology
Links for this episode:
Pathologists’ Assistant Shadowing Network
Pathology Clinics: What, Why, and Where to Start
Linnea Olson Tedx talk: Patient, parent, person, research subject
3 Questions with Lija Joseph, MD
People of Pathology Podcast:
Episode 219: Dr. Kalisha Hill – Discovering Pinnacles in Pathology
Today my guest is pathologist Dr Kalisha Hill
What we discuss with Dr Hill:
- Her transition from surgical aspirations to a passion for pathology
- How the pandemic influenced the writing of Pinnacles: Visible and Invisible
- The importance of mentorship and saying “yes” to growth opportunities
- Lessons in leadership from the lab and beyond
- How earning an MBA reshaped her understanding of healthcare
- The impact of professional organizations like CAP on career development
- The meaning of “visible” and “invisible” pinnacles in pathology and in life
Links for this episode:
Pathologists’ Assistant Shadowing Network
Pinnacles: Visible and Invisible
People of Pathology Podcast:
Episode 218: Adam Smith – Making AI Accessible For All With Indica Labs
Today my guest is Adam Smith, CCO of Indica Labs.
What we discuss with Adam:
- Adam’s journey from HALO customer to Chief Commercial Officer at Indica Labs
- How firsthand experience with HALO inspired him to join the company in 2015
- The evolution of Indica Labs: from image analysis software to a full digital pathology ecosystem (HALO, HALO Link, HALO AI, HALO AP, and HALO AP Dx)
- Customer focus as the foundation for innovation
- How Indica Labs has integrated AI, deep learning, and large language models into its products
- The goal of bringing AI and digital pathology to the masses: making tools accessible to all labs, large or small
- Examples of how HALO AI and AI Apps are enhancing pathologists’ efficiency and accuracy
- Indica Labs’ philosophy of augmentation, not replacement
- How strategic partnerships with Leica Biosystems, Lunit, and Visiopharm are expanding AI adoption in clinical and research environments
- The future of computational pathology and global impact through AI-driven diagnostics
Links for this episode:
Pathologists’ Assistant Shadowing Network
People of Pathology Podcast:
Episode 217: Roseann Vitale – Guiding Innovation At Mopec Through Education And The Clinical Advisory Board
Today my guest is Roseann Vitale, Product Manager with Mopec.
What we discuss with Roseann:
- Roseann’s path to the pathologists’ assistant profession and how her background in fine arts influenced her career in pathology
- Helping to build a simulated pathology lab at Rosalind Franklin University
- Her innovative approaches to hands-on learning and standardization in PA education
- Her clinical experience in pediatric pathology and how it informed her teaching and professional perspective
- Transitioning from academia and clinical practice into an industry role at Mopec
- The role of Product Manager at Mopec and what it means to be the “voice of the customer”
- Challenges of variability and standardization at the grossing bench
- The Mopec–Lumea partnership and how integrating digital imaging at the grossing bench transforms workflows
- The creation and goals of the Mopec Clinical Advisory Board
- Roseann’s involvement in professional organizations and how that influences her industry work
- Her vision for the future of pathology: smarter, safer, and more standardized workflows in grossing and anatomic pathology
Links for this episode:
Pathologists’ Assistant Shadowing Network
Rosalind Franklin University Pathologists’ Assistant Program
Panel of National Pathology Leaders
American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants
People of Pathology Podcast:
Episode 216: Dr David Li – Using Personal Experience To Transform Patient Understanding In Pathology
Today my guest is hematopathologist Dr David Li.
What we discuss with Dr Li:
- His early introduction to pathology through a neuropathology research lab at the University of Washington.
- The influence of strong mentors and role models in shaping his path toward hematopathology.
- His mother’s diagnoses with breast and pancreatic cancer, and how he served as a bridge to help her understand complex pathology reports.
- The communication gap that often exists between patients and providers when it comes to pathology results.
- Founding a patient pathology clinic at Mayo Clinic–Jacksonville to make pathology more patient-centered.
- Stories of diverse patients who benefited from the pathology clinic.
- The role of digital pathology in making pathology clinics accessible across the country and internationally.
- Dr. Li’s own experience with hereditary cancer risk and his prostate cancer diagnosis.
- Using social media, especially TikTok to raise awareness about genetic testing, men’s cancer risk, and early detection.
- His vision for a future where pathology clinics are a routine part of oncology care, supported by digital tools and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Links for this episode:
Pathologists’ Assistant Shadowing Network
Dr Li on TikTok
People of Pathology Podcast:
Episode 215: Dr Michael Topf And Dr Alexander Perez – Reimagining Pathology Specimen Documentation With 3D Scanning
Today my guests are Dr Alexander Perez and Dr Michael Topf.
What we discuss with Dr Perez and Dr Topf:
- The challenge of documenting surgical specimens with traditional text and photos
- How 3D scanning improves accuracy and communication in pathology
- Integration into the gross room workflow with minimal time impact
- Clinical applications: tumor boards, surgical navigation, and radiation therapy planning
- Educational value: training residents, 3D printing, and virtual/augmented reality
- Patient-facing benefits, including education and visualization
- Cost accessibility: high-quality scanners for around $2,000
- Collaboration and sharing of protocols to encourage wider adoption
- Future outlook: from long-term digital storage to medicolegal uses and beyond
Links for this episode:
Pathologists’ Assistant Shadowing Network
Ex vivo 3D scanning and specimen mapping in anatomic pathology
Visual pathology reports for improved collaboration at multidisciplinary head and neck tumor board
People of Pathology Podcast:
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