If you live in one of the 318 communities in Massachusetts where COVID rates are at or below the national benchmark (white or green on the below map), there is no reason why children should not be going back to school for a full in person learning experience. Why? I explain… Last month the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine issued a report prioritizing reopening with an emphasis on providing in-person instruction for students in K-5. It is believed that distance learning is not ideal for this age group. Young children, particularly in grades K-3 are still developing the ..read more

The following information is from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). There is significant interest in new serology tests that can detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. There are many aspects of these tests that are unknown. This is a rapidly evolving area of diagnostic testing for COVID-19 and may change in the future. The following guidance is provided by RIDOH on use of these tests: Antibody-based SARS-CoV-2 tests detect antibodies in the blood against the virus. There are two types of antibodies that can be detected, IgM, which appear early after i ..read more

1. Proceeds go to support pathologist led cervical and breast cancer screening for underserved women. 2. Own a piece of The Doors legacy created by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Robby Krieger. 3. These are the opening notes to Light My Fire, the first song Robby Krieger wrote, which launched The Doors career by hitting #1 on the charts in 1967. 4. You will get a hand written note from Robby thanking you. 5. If a pathologist is the high bidder and goes over $2k, you will receive a special gift from Robby and I at CAP19. 6. You get bragging rights as the winning bidder. 7. I’ll make sure ..read more

I had the honor of recently testifying at the Massachusetts State House regarding a solution for preventing surprise medical bills. Surprise medical bills, also known as "balance billing" or "out of network" bills occur when a patient unknowingly receives care from an out of network provider in a in-network hospital. Many times these charges are for pathology labs, radiology studies, anesthesia and emergency care. The root of the problem is that many insurance companies have narrow provider networks and often do not include these vital hospital based physicians within network. The Massachuset ..read more

As a pathologist passionate about fighting cancer, and a lifelong fan of The Doors, it was a dream come true to be able to partner with Robby Krieger to support both our charities. Robby Krieger, perhaps best known as the guitarist and songwriter for the he legendary band The Doors, wrote and co-wrote many of the band’s most iconic songs, including “Break on Through”, “Love Me Two Times”, “Touch Me”, “Love Her Madly” “Roadhouse Blues” “Spanish Caravan”, and “Light My Fire”. Robby’s latest endeavor comes by way of his paintings. “Light My Fire” is Robby’s artistic interpretation of the classic ..read more

Immunotherapy consistently makes headlines as an effective tool in cancer treatment. What is it and why are pathologists so important in selecting patients most likely to benefit from this game changing therapy? What is Immunotherapy Cancer cells utilize PD-L1 to inactivate T cells and “cloak” themselves to the immune system. By blocking PD-L1 with antibodies, the tumor can be “unmasked” and the immune system unleased to attack the tumor. Pathologists are crucial Pathologists are integral to establishing PD-L1 status of tumors. By examining tumor cells for expression of PD-L1 through antibody ..read more

Did you know there is another doctor on your care team helping to keep you healthy? You probably have never met your pathologist, but they know you. It's time to meet them. Why might you want to get to know them? All treatment begins with a diagnosis. It is your pathologist that makes your diagnosis. Your pathologist directs the lab that runs your blood tests. Look for their name on the report. They can help you understand the results or answer your questions about anything you might not understand. If you had a biopsy (skin, colonoscopy, breast, etc.), your pathologist examined the tissue u ..read more

For the first time, researchers have an exciting new option for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), that thus far has lacked effective therapy. TNBC refers to invasive breast cancers that lack expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and are negative for the HER2 protein. TNBC accounts for about 10-15% of all breast cancers. It is typically more aggressive than estrogen receptor positive breast cancer and HER2 positive breast cancer. TNBC often occurs in younger women (under 40 years old), frequently of African American or Hispanic background. It can be associated ..read more

Patients are increasingly accessing their lab results through electronic medical record portals. Lab tests account for 94% of the data in a patient's health record. Pathologists and lab testing inform 70% of all medical decisions. As such, it is natural that pathologists should ensure patients and families understand their results. The shared decision model where the informed and engaged patient works with their provider to navigate this array of data and create a personalized care plan is becoming increasingly popular. In a recent paper, ten recommendations were proposed for health systems t ..read more

Our study is the first report of direct patient-pathologist consultation. Early data suggest that the program may provide effective patient-specific education. The high response rate and favorable assessment of the program suggest that it may be a valuable resource for some patients. These are the questions we asked patients. Here is a sampling of some of the responses. See for yourself. Bring your pathology report and ask if you can meet your pathologist. #pathology #consult #patient #cancer #value ..read more