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Associate Dean of AI in Medicine, Professor & Endowed Chair of Lombardi-Shinozuka Experimental Pathology Research at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Executive Director of CPACE (Computational Pathology & AI Center of Excellence; a UPitt/UPMC joint effort); Executive Vice Chair of Computational Pathology Division at UPMC; and Adjunct Professor of Engineering, Carnegie Melon University, USA

Qualities of innovative thinkers? Curiosity drives us to explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, seek answers, foster creativity, encourage experimentation, and enable adaptability. By embracing lifelong learning, our curiosity enables us to stay ahead of the curve, making connections and finding novel solutions that lead to groundbreaking ideas and innovations, ultimately advancing us as society. 

Making the most of an invention or innovation? Execution is not just about having a great idea, but about turning it into a usable, real product through persistence, hard work, and a willingness to iterate and improve on the original idea. This process typically includes the creation of a prototype, followed by user feedback, and the realization that continuous refinement must remain throughout the concept. Through such planned processes, hard work and a belief in the idea/product, innovators can bridge the gap between inspiration and commercial success, ultimately bringing their vision to life.

Exciting developments and trends? I believe the most significant development in pathology over the past decade has been the increased adoption of digital pathology, since it is also the cornerstone of our AI tools that are being developed. By transitioning from traditional glass slides to digital whole-slide images, pathologists can now efficiently review and analyze cases remotely, collaborate more effectively, and most importantly enable the integration of AI into their workflow. This paradigm shift has paved the way for AI-driven algorithms to assist in image analysis, automation of routine tasks, and the uncovering of new insights within our clinical and research workflows. This is starting to revolutionize the field of pathology, which ultimately translates to improved patient outcomes and new discoveries.