Magee-Womens Hospital Pathology

Housed in Magee-Womens Hospital, the Division specializes in breast, gynecologic, placental/perinatal, surgical pathology, gynecologic cytopathology, and performs all related diagnostic, teaching, and research activities for UPMC.

Clinical Services

The Division serves as the diagnostic resource for the UPMC Health System as well as for others in our region and beyond. We perform all of the diagnostic services for breast, gynecologic, placental/perinatal, surgical pathology, and gynecologic cytopathology specimens for patients throughout the UPMC Health System. In addition, the division has a very active consultation service. Diagnostic tools at our disposal are unparalleled, and include immunohistology, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), cytogenetics, and access to the molecular pathology laboratory of the department and the genomics facility.

Research Activities

The Division emphasizes several major areas of investigation. In the area of breast pathology, current ongoing basic research focuses on precursors of breast neoplasia, their immunohistologic detection and distinction from benign changes. Diagnostic immunohistochemistry of breast is an on-going study in which development of multiplex immunohistologic assays aid in diagnostic interpretation of breast risk lesions. Predictive/prognostic immunohistochemistry of breast is also an ongoing study area, aimed at optimizing tissue routing and fixation procedures for an ever-growing battery of predictive/prognostic markers. In gynecologic pathology, current focus is on the pathways of endometrioid neoplasia in the ovary, with atypical endometriotic lesions as the soil for neoplasia. Molecular abnormalities of these lesions are being studied, along with ARID1A mutations. In cervical pathology, HPV models of risk have been developed using Pap test, HPV testing and patient demographics. In placental pathology, research is focused in reproductive biology through collaboration with scientists from the Magee-Women's Research Institute.

Educational Programs

Resident Rotation: The core Magee Pathology rotation of approximately 18 weeks offers the resident an introduction to the many facets of this complex field. The resident will begin to become familiar with the multi-parameter approach to breast, gynecologic, placental/perinatal surgical pathology and gynecologic cytopathology. The department is complemented by three full-time fellows in breast/gynecologic pathology. Core Resident Rotation Curriculum:

• Breast Pathology (~6 weeks)
• Gynecologic Pathology Hematology (~6 weeks)
• Gynecologic Cytopathology (~4 weeks, separate cytology rotation)
• Placental/Perinatal Pathology (~2 weeks)

The Division has a Clinical Instructorship (Fellowship) program in breast / gynecologic pathology.

The Division also support the Anisa I. Kanbour School of Cytotechnology and the School of Histotechnology both of which primarily reside with Magee-Womens Hospital.

Faculty

• Rohit Bhargava, MBBS (Chief of Pathology, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital)
  • Breast Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology
• Robert Bendon, MD
  • Placental/Perinatal Pathology
• Gloria J. Carter, MD
  • Cytopathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Breast Pathology
• Beth Z. Clark, MD
  • Breast Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Cytopathology
• Esther Elishaev, MD
  • Gynecologic Pathology, Cytopathology, Breast pathology
• Jeffrey Fine, MD
  • Gynecologic Pathology, Breast Pathology
• Lakshmi Harinath, MD, MPH
  • Cytopathology, Breast pathology, Gynecologic Pathology
• Mirka Jones, MD
  • Gynecologic Pathology, Breast Pathology
• Stefan Kostadinov, MD
  • Placental/Perinatal Pathology
• Olga Navolotskaia, MD
  • Cytopathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Breast Pathology
• T. Rinda Soong, MD, PhD, MPH
  • Gynecologic Pathology, Breast Pathology
• Tatiana Villatoro, MD
  • Breast Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology
• Jing Yu, MD
  • Cytopathology, Breast Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology
• Chengquan Zhao, MD
  • Gynecologic Pathology, Cytopathology, Breast Pathology