Pathology

Pathology is a branch of medical science that is focused on the study and diagnosis of disease. Clinical pathology involves the examination of surgically removed organs, tissues (biopsy samples), bodily fluids, and, in some cases, the whole body (autopsy). Aspects of a bodily specimen that may be considered include its gross anatomical make up, appearance of the cells using immunological markers and chemical signatures, as well as genetic studies and gene markers. Pathologists specialize in a wide range of diseases, including cancer, and the vast majority of cancer diagnoses are made by pathologists. The cellular pattern of tissue samples are observed under a microscope to help determine if a sample is cancerous or non-cancerous (benign). Our Residency Program trains candidates in the diagnosis of disease.

Pathology also includes the related scientific study of disease processes whereby the causes, mechanisms and extent of disease are examined. Areas of study include cellular adaptation to injury, necrosis (death of living cells or tissues), inflammation, wound healing, and neoplasia (abnormal new growth of cells), as well as specific disorders of the individual organ systems. Our research laboratories are focused on understanding the cellular abnormalities in disease, with the eventual goal of improving both diagnosis and treatment. Our Graduate Studies Program trains candidates in laboratory research on disease.

In 2024, the field of pathology is reaching new milestones with recent renaming of the Royal College recognized subspecialty from Anatomical Pathology to Diagnostic & Molecular Pathology – a shift that represents the progression of this field from a macroscopic/microscopic to molecular level understanding of human disease and precision medicine. This transformation highlights the position of pathology at the center of health science advancement and its expansion from a purely diagnostic discipline into a key driver of patient treatment and prognostication.