Welcome to the Department of Pathology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. We are a full-service academic pathology department comprised of Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Comparative Medicine, which supports our groundbreaking basic science research. Our department serves as the clinical and academic hub for pathology within the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist system and provides Pathology service line leadership for the Advocate Clinical Laboratories. With over 50 distinguished faculty members on the Winston-Salem campus, our expertise spans the full spectrum of subspecialties in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
This is an exciting time for our department, marked by transformative changes at multiple levels of the organization. The integration of new leadership throughout our department and health system is driving innovation and vision as we chart a bold course forward. The recent merger to form Advocate Health—one of the nation’s largest learning healthcare systems—has amplified our mission to redefine care. Advocate Health's guiding commitments to Lift Everyone, Lead the Way, Think Boldly Together, and Embrace the Unknown align seamlessly with our department’s purpose and strategy, creating unparalleled opportunities for collaboration, growth, and impact.
Additionally, we are excited to begin leveraging the transformative potential of digital advancements and artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology and laboratory medicine. Through these innovations, we are optimizing our practice to elevate the care we provide. By standardizing and harmonizing processes across Advocate Health, we aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve operational efficiency, and ensure equitable access to high-quality care for the communities we serve.
Our academic achievements further showcase our commitment to excellence. Last year, we conducted over 6.4 million billable tests, processed over 43,000 surgical pathology cases and 22,000 cytology cases, and performed approximately 1,900 forensic autopsies. Our residency and fellowship programs, along with our Comparative Medicine training programs, are dedicated to cultivating the next generation of pathologists, veterinary pathologists, and researchers. Department faculty secured approximately $13.2 million in extramural funding for clinical, translational, and basic research and contributed over 140 peer-reviewed manuscripts, many published in high-impact journals.
True to our mission, we provide high-quality, subspecialty pathology and laboratory medicine services to our patients and clinical partners while continuously innovating through research, development, and education. As an integral part of a larger health system, we leverage our scale to enhance clinical services and academic endeavors, positioning us to be leaders in redefining care.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our department and stay informed on recent developments. If you have any questions or wish to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us!