Pathology and Lab Medicine Cuts Ribbon on New Central Lab Space

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine celebrated its recently completed second-floor addition at Central Lab with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

Part of a five-year consolidation and expansion project, the 19,000-square-foot addition at the facility on Bailey Road has made room for Surgical Pathology and Cytology, resulting in the majority of the department’s non-acute teams consolidated in one location. A set of key labs will remain permanently based onsite at SMH to support emergent patient care.

Remarks were offered by Kathy Parrinello, CEO of Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals; Christa Whitney-Miller, MD, the Frieda Robscheit-Robbins Professor and department chair; and Jennifer Findeis-Hosey, MD, acting director of Surgical Pathology. Guests included Medical Center leadership, Pathology faculty and staff, affiliate partners from throughout the region, and representatives from our construction, design, and project partners LeChase Construction, design firm HDR Inc., and HOLT Architects.

The ribbon cutting marks a new chapter in Pathology’s history. The larger, state-of-the-art space and consolidation of labs was the goal when the overall project was envisioned prior to 2019.

“We are excited for the future of our department,” Whitney-Miller said. The addition of the Surgical Pathology and Cytology staff members at Central Lab will enhance collaboration, streamline operations, and strengthen our collective impact on patient care. The expansion also will allow for continued growth and an environment in which our entire team can further thrive, now and into the future.”

The department boasts a substantial clinical operation, performing 12 million tests annually. This addition helps support one of the largest hospital-based surgical pathology laboratories, a team that now sees over 100,000 cases each year.

Growth in Surgical Pathology has been constant since Findeis-Hosey arrived in 2006, when she remembers the team had just cracked 45,000 cases for the year.

“And 18 years later, we have doubled that,” she said. “Our lab is large and requires an ever-growing cohort of phenomenal staff and faculty who work together to keep patient care front and center. Having this space allows us to continue to improve, innovate, and expand even more.”

Surg Path and Cytology moved to Central Lab in November. The extraordinary relocation process required more than a year of preparation. Logistical plans were carefully developed to maintain current levels of service during the move. They included the ability to process rush biopsies for urgent cases requiring diagnosis for initiation of therapy.