Shifting Mindsets Towards Digital Pathology - with Liron Pantanowitz

Welcome to PathPulse: Pathology Innovators in Action! In this episode, James Thackeray is joined by Dr. Liron Pantanowitz, the Maud L. Menten Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh. A globally recognized cytopathologist and a pioneer in digital and computational pathology, Dr. Pantanowitz has significantly shaped the field through his work on guidelines for whole slide imaging and AI applications. He's also a past president of both the Digital Pathology Association and the American Society of Cytopathology, and a multi-year honoree on The Pathologist Power List.

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Pantanowitz delves into the crucial, yet often overlooked, barrier to widespread digital pathology adoption: the pathologist's mindset. He candidly discusses how traditional training and ingrained practices create resistance to change, even as technology advances.

Discover:

• Dr. Pantanowitz's three core priorities as Chair of Pathology: caring for people, improving processes, and applying technology to enhance both.
• Why, despite technological advancements and regulatory approvals, digital pathology adoption remains slower than anticipated, and how many common perceived barriers have, in fact, been overcome.
• His compelling mobile phone analogy that helps pathologists understand the long-term benefits of digital pathology, emphasizing portability and the future potential of integrated applications.
• The importance of "walking the walk" and transparently addressing the nuances and challenges of digital adoption, rather than selling an unrealistic "perfect" vision.
• Insights into the pathologist's relationship with AI, addressing concerns about trust, liability, and the practical implementation of diagnostic AI in daily workflows.
• The critical need for "workflow AI" to automate mundane tasks like quality control and inter-departmental correlations, freeing up pathologists for higher-value work.
• Dr. Pantanowitz's powerful closing message: that adaptation is key to survival in an evolving medical landscape, urging pathologists to embrace digital tools for precision care and future relevance.

This episode offers a candid and enlightening perspective on the human element of technological transformation in pathology, providing valuable insights for anyone involved in digital diagnostics.

Transcript: https://lumeadigital.com/shifting-mindsets-towards-digital-pathology-podcast/

Submit questions for our future recordings here: https://lumeadigital.com/ask-a-pathologist-podcast/

Sponsored by the Digital Diagnostic Summit and Lumea.