Our UTMB Pathology team is at
the cutting-edge of innovations in diagnostic medicine. Diagnoses emerge
from our diagnostic experts in anatomic and clinical pathology as a
personalized, expert-driven narrative in many areas of pathology. Our
doctors constantly advise colleagues on the appropriate selection of
tests. We develop personalized interpretations that have simultaneous
input not only from pathologists, but also from radiologists. We are
advancing the initial concept of the diagnostic management team to
maximize its positive clinical and financial impact.
Through these consultative interactions, pathology residents
at UTMB are exposed in real-time to active clinical cases. They
contribute clinically, and economically, as they assist clinicians in
the selection and interpretation of laboratory tests. UTMB pathology
resident graduates will be uniquely qualified upon completion of their
training, as the world changes away from "payment per click" to "payment
for episode-of-care", to serve as essential partners with treating
physicians.
UTMB has graduated many thousands of physicians over
the years since it opened its doors as the first medical school west of
the Mississippi River. Pathology plays an important role in the
education of our medical students. We educate our medical students on
all diagnostic aspects of disease and not simply the anatomic pathology
changes associated with disease. Our goal is to provide medical students
who graduate from our institution to begin their practice with a
substantially greater knowledge of the appropriate tests needed for a
diagnostic evaluation to generate accurate diagnoses quickly.
We
will continue to be a leader in understanding the serious infectious
diseases that take thousands of lives. Our solidly funded scientific
programs in these areas continue to make major contributions to the
eradication of these terrible diseases. We are very interested in
translating many of our findings in basic research into diagnostic
assays that can be used in the early identification of diseases,
particularly those infections where an early diagnosis can be
lifesaving. We are striving to translate our significant research
expertise in toxicology into clinical innovations that can be used to
better identify and treat patients affected by the millions of
toxicological compounds in our environment.
We are enjoying
exciting times in the Department of Pathology. It is my expectation that
innovations in how we practice pathology will lead our specialty into a
new era as institutional and patient expectations from pathology
continue to grow.
Michael Laposata, MD, PhD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Pathology
University of Texas Medical Branch
301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0419
Office: (409) 772-0090 | Fax: (409) 772-5683
Email: milaposa@utmb.edu