Eric Q. Konnick
Associate Professor; Associate Director, Genetics and Solid Tumor Laboratory; Director, Genetics Pre-analytical Services, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, USA
Biggest challenge in pathology? The FDA’s final rule regulating laboratory developed tests poses a huge challenge to the field of pathology. The ability of pathologists to adapt new scientific and medical knowledge to patient care could be dramatically hindered, and the financial costs to practice are likely to be greatly increased. Pathologists will be expected to comply with new regulations that are very different from CLIA requirements and have much more severe consequences if we are not in compliance. It is going to be an interesting few years while the final rule is implemented and lawsuits make their way through the courts.
Exciting developments and trends? I am most excited about the key roles that pathologic diagnosis, classification, and biomarker testing are increasingly playing in providing optimal patient care. While pathologists have always been critical to obtaining the correct diagnosis and providing laboratory data to manage patients, the increased use of laboratory methods to predict therapy response and precisely classify diagnoses has brought the contributions of pathologists into the forefront. I am hopeful that the application of AI approaches, high-dimensional approaches, and non-destructive imaging techniques will allow pathologists to participate even more in the team-based patient care that we are seeing today.
Inspiring leader? Carl Kjeldsberg was an amazing leader while chair of the University of Utah Department of Pathology and CEO of ARUP laboratories. Prior to medical school, I was an R&D scientist at ARUP laboratories, and Kjeldsberg routinely walked through all areas of the laboratories and talked with everyone, discussing small facets of the business and connecting with people on a personal level. He was approachable and inspirational at the same time, and those small, personal interactions gave employees a keen awareness of the practice of laboratory medicine and the business of the laboratory. I have tried to emulate Kjeldsberg as I have transitioned into leadership positions and I try to connect with everyone in the lab, because, without all their efforts, pathologists could not effectively care for our patients.
