Ryan Hardy

About Ryan Hardy

Intro to pathology? I accidentally found my way into pathology and healthcare IT. After working in IT at various companies, I applied for a job at Washington University School of Medicine as I approached 40. I got the job, and it's been the most rewarding experience of my career. It opened my eyes to the advanced research and clinical work being done, and I saw how IT can expand, simplify, and improve the daily tasks of pathology staff.

Exciting developments and trends? AI & Digital Pathology. I work in the healthcare IT space and digital pathology is the future – making it easier to share images, consult with other pathologists, and use AI tools to analyze digitized slides. This helps pathologists by automating tasks like counting cells, making the work more efficient and less time-consuming.

Biggest challenge in pathology? Modernizing labs for the 21st century is a big challenge. While labs have advanced, many still rely on handwritten processes and manual workflows with little automation. Upgrading these systems is costly and slow, making it one of the biggest obstacles in pathology today.