The UAB Department of Pathology launched its digital pathology initiative in November 2024. Today, the effort is only gaining momentum. The program’s implementation is scheduled to be completed by June 2026, but the journey has only just begun.
The digital pathology initiative aims to modernize pathology services by enabling remote frozen‑section diagnosis, improving efficiency and ensuring quality patient care through easier access to expertise. It supports faculty recruitment and retention with greater flexibility and strengthens education by providing state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure for trainees. The program also enhances tumor board effectiveness, extends subspecialty services to underserved communities and boosts UAB’s competitive position in the region.
“It’s essential we look back at all we’ve accomplished making digital pathology a reality,” said Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D., Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair in Pathology. “This effort continues to make great strides toward enhancing diagnostic capabilities and streamlining our pathology workflow.”
Below is a summary of key milestones to date:
• March 2024: Sunil Singhal joined as consultant
• April 2024: RFI sent to 10 IMS, 8 WSI scanner, and 5 Frozen Section (FS) device vendors
• June/July 2024: Detailed RFI sent to 4 IMS vendors for presentation and demo; evaluated 3 FS device vendors onsite
• July 3, 2024: Capital Oversight Committee provisionally approves digital pathology transformation initiative (formally approved on August 28, 2024)
• September 2024: Mikroscan L5 selected as FS device
• October 2024: Sectra selected as PACS/IMS partner
• March 2024: Mikroscan L5 installed at Highlands and UAB Main
• April 2025: Contract with Sectra signed
• May 2025: UAB Highlands validated for remote FS diagnosis
• June 20, 2025: Sectra Integration project kicked off
• July 2025: Workflow workshop with Sectra
• August 2025: First Executive Steering Committee meeting
• September 2025: Existing GT450 RUO scanner upgraded to GT450 Dx and second GT450 Dx procured
• September 2025: Primary Diagnosis Validation procedure signed
• September 2025: Project Steering Committees constituted
• October 2025: Scan Center ready
• October 2025: Sectra sandbox available
• November 2025: Second Executive Steering Committee meeting
• December 2025: Digital Pathology Journey Lecture #1 - Dr. Andy Evans, Mackenzie Health
• December 2025: Mikroscan L5 validated for UAB Main
• January 2026: Digital Pathology Journey Lecture #2 - Dr. Orly Ardon, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer center
• January 2026: Workflow with Sectra finalized
By the end of 2026, the department hopes to implement remote frozen section sign-out, expand digital pathology for use in tumor boards, validate digital pathology for primary diagnosis and launch digital pathology for primary diagnosis for biopsies.
Ultimately, digital pathology will prepare the department for the future of P4 medicine, integrating predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory approaches with systems medicine and big‑data capabilities.
“We are thrilled about the continued progress and the potential of digital pathology to improve efficiency, diagnostic accuracy and patient care,” Magi-Galluzzi said. “I am immeasurably thankful for the team that has helped make this transformational effort possible.”