Kayode Balogun

About Kayode Balogun

Pathologists play a vital role across the continuum of patient care, from diagnosis to disease monitoring. Yet despite these contributions, pathology remains underappreciated – often seen as limited to lab testing and report generation. To maximize impact, pathologists must become more visible and integrated into multidisciplinary teams, serving as expert consultants rather than hidden colleagues.

Pathologists bring a unique skill set that can directly strengthen patient care. They have access to diverse data across specialties, which can support the development of decision-support tools (DSTs). For example, in HIV prevention, DSTs built into laboratory information systems can automatically flag patients eligible for testing based on age, risk, or past results – helping clinicians identify at-risk individuals, focus resources, and improve outcomes.

Pathology’s influence also extends into implementation science, which ensures evidence-based practices are effectively adopted and sustained. Pathologists can lead the design of new testing protocols and practices that enhance care delivery, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes.

In translational research and guideline development, pathologists provide critical expertise in diagnostics, disease monitoring, and test development. As co-investigators, they ensure scientific rigor in studies requiring advanced laboratory methods.

My own work reflects this broader role. In HIV and pediatric health research, I highlighted the unique needs of HIV-exposed but uninfected children – now a population of 16 million worldwide. Collaborating with clinicians and people living with HIV, I showed that antiretroviral therapy alters pregnancy hormones, increasing risks of preterm birth and low birth weight. This work, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, influenced removal of lopinavir from pregnancy treatment guidelines and was cited in UpToDate. My current projects include identifying lipidomic biomarkers of adverse pregnancy outcomes and establishing pediatric fatty acid reference ranges now used nationally through ARUP Laboratories.

Beyond research, I advocate for standardized viral load reporting aligned with the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) message, to promote clear and empowering patient communication.

To fully realize pathology’s impact, pathologists must step beyond the laboratory – collaborating with clinical colleagues, driving innovation, shaping implementation, and advocating for patient-centered care. Greater visibility and integration will allow pathology to transform care and fulfill its potential as a cornerstone of modern medicine.