Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Mission
The mission of the UTHSC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is to bring the benefits of the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine to the citizens of Tennessee and others through the pursuit of an integrated program of education, research, clinical care and public service.
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine will pursue this mission:
- By contributing to the medical education mission of the UTHSC student body, through offering specialty medical training in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and through contributing to graduate medical education in Experimental Pathology with a focus on Cancer Biology through the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program.
- By conducting basic Experimental Pathology research in the mechanism of disease with a focus on cancer biology, and through clinical and translational research to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases particularly through the application of precision medicine.
- By delivering high quality anatomic and clinical pathology services in affiliated institutions, including through laboratory directorships and participation in patient safety committees and programs.
- By serving as resources to community and professional organizations, the scientific community, policy makers, and the public in matters pertaining to basic mechanisms of diseases, and to appropriate use of existing and evolving pathology and laboratory medicine services.
Core Values
The core values of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in realizing our vision and achieving our mission are:
- The continuous pursuit of excellence and dedication to the profession and the institution.
- A strong sense of professionalism, respect, integrity, and accountability among faculty, fellows, residents, and staff.
- An emphasis on discovery, innovation, and implementation of novel approaches.
- Intraprofessional interaction, interdisciplinary collaboration, and healthcare team integration.
- A focus on continuous improvement, patient safety, and evidence-based practice.
- Diversity in faculty, fellows, residents, and staff.
Education
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provides essential didactic teaching to students in the College of Medicine through the Department of Medical Education.
Additional didactic training to students in other UTHSC Colleges including Dentistry and Health Professions, and a number of our faculty hold joint appointments in these colleges.
Medical students interested in pathology may be interested in arranging a rotational experience in the department or in joining the Pathology Interest Group. Medical students may be interested in Research Scholar programs with our Experimental Pathology faculty.
Research
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine offers graduate and postdoctoral research experience primarily through the Experimental Pathology Division in the Center for Cancer Research. Prospective graduate students should apply through the College of Graduate Health Sciences.
Xianfeng Frank Zhao, MD, PhD, MBA, Named the New Chair of the Department of Pathology and Labratory Medicine
Xianfeng Frank Zhao, MD PhD MBA, has been named UTHSC Gerwin Professor of Cancer Research
and Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the UTHSC.
Dr. Zhao brings with him a wealth of experience in accomplishing the education, research,
and clinical service missions of the College of Medicine. As the first chair, he founded
the Department of Pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix.
As the new chair, Dr. Zhao will oversee all the academic activities of the department
to ensure a highly reliable pathology laboratory service and continue an excellent
research program. He also shoulders the task of building up a high-quality and efficient
molecular diagnostics laboratory to serve the need of more demanding precision medicine.
Read More
Pfeffer Awarded $2.6 Million to Continue Glioblastoma Research
Lawrence Pfeffer, PhD, has spent the better part of 20 years trying to improve treatments
for glioblastoma, the most common malignancy of the brain and the most lethal. After
over 30 years as a professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Tennessee
Health Science Center, Dr. Pfeffer was nearing retirement and thought he… Read More
Congratulations to Lauren King, MD on her induction into the UTHSC Academy of Master Educators
Congratulations to Lauren King, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine on her induction into the UTHSC Academy of Master Educators!
The selection process involved a rigorous review by the AME Executive and Selection Committees. The Selection Committee was impressed with the commitment she has shown for medical education throughout her career and the impact it has had on learners. By inclusion in the Academy, Dr. King joins a cadre of like-minded medical educators with whom to collaborate on continuous quality improvement of our medical curriculum.
On September 28th, Dr. King will join her fellow inductees in a formal induction ceremony for the new class of Academy of Master Educators. The ceremony will be held in the Mooney Library on the Memphis campus.