Send us a text

Why do so many digital pathology tools stall before they ever reach patients?

In this USCAP 2025 special sponsored by Muse Microscopy, I talk with Esther Abels, founder of SolarisRTC, regulatory strategist, and the force behind the first FDA-cleared whole slide imaging system.

We break down what startups and established companies must do from day one to succeedbin getting their devices through the FDA. Hint: regulatory strategy isn’t a final step—it’s your starting line.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• [00:01:00] Why regulatory planning must start at inception
• [00:03:00] How Esther helped Philips get the first scanner FDA cleared
• [00:05:00] Clinical study design, documentation, and risk strategy
• [00:08:00] Timeline expectations for clearance and review
• [00:10:00] The role of consultants vs. internal regulatory teams
• [00:13:00] Using meta-analysis, synthetic data, and publications
• [00:15:00] How the DPA is driving system decoupling & AI regulatory clarity
  
  

🎧 Tune in to learn how to build compliance into innovation—from tissue imaging to AI-powered diagnostics.

#DigitalPathology #RegulatoryStrategy #FDAApproval #ClinicalInnovation #PathologyTools #MUSEmiscroscopy #sponsored #USCAP2025

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Send us a text

Can you still call it “digital transformation” if you’re scanning slides and still tethered to glass?

This special episode, recorded at USCAP and sponsored by MUSE Microscopy, features Dr. Robert Osamura from Japan. We explore how digital pathology is being implemented across Japanese hospitals, how regulations shape adoption, and where AI and tools like MUSE could fit in a geographically complex healthcare system. We also discuss the real-world utility of direct-to-digital tools for intraoperative diagnostics and how AI is changing confidence, not replacing pathologists.

👉 Tune in for an insightful conversation bridging tradition and innovation in digital pathology.

⏱ Highlights with Timestamps

• [00:00] Starting digital pathology with glass is still required
• [02:00] Dr. Osamura’s current practice in a community hospital near Tokyo
• [03:30] Everyday use of digital pathology for biopsy cases
• [04:30] Technical and logistical advantages of digital images
• [05:45] How Japan’s island geography benefits from digital workflows
• [07:15] Government regulations: dual review (glass + digital)
• [08:40] Adoption challenges and culture around microscopes
• [10:00] The psychological shift away from glass reliance
• [11:30] Potential use cases for MUSE technology in Japan
• [13:20] Direct-to-digital for frozen sections and rapid diagnosis
• [15:00] Hospital-to-hospital collaborations in Japan
• [16:30] Reimbursement and scanner costs as limiting factors
• [17:45] AI as a confidence enhancer, not a replacement
• [18:45] Future of pathology as more patient-centered

Episode Resources:

https://musemicroscopy.com/

#sponsored #musemicroscopy #USCAP

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Send us a text

Why are so many pathologists still afraid of going digital?

In this USCAP special episode sponsored by Muse Microscopy, I talk with Dr. Sarah Dry, Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA, about real-world adoption, AI fear, and how change is best managed when it's people-led.

From her early digital research lab in 2007 to pioneering innovative workflows at UCLA today, Dr. Dry knows how direct-to-digital imaging and AI can enhance, not replace, our work.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• [00:01:00] Fear of change and pathologist pushback
• [00:03:00] Direct-to-digital imaging & frozen sectios
• [00:05:00] Redefining histotech roles amid tech shortages
• [00:08:00] CAP standards, tissue storage & digital-first futures
• [00:12:00] Specialty-specific barriers to adoption
• [00:15:00] Why AI is a pathologist extender, not a threat
• [00:18:00] What AI can automate—cell counts, GI screenings & reports
• [00:20:00] Managing change and getting early adopters onboard
  
  

🎧 Tune in to hear how digital pathology becomes scalable, without losing the people at its core.

#DigitalPathology #AIinPathology #ChangeManagement #PathologistLeadership #WomenInSTEM

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Send us a text

Why is digital pathology progressing faster in some parts of the world than others?

In this international episode sponsored by Muse Microscopy, I sit down with Junya Fukuoka and Norman Zerbe—presidents of the Asian and European Societies of Digital Pathology—to unpack how cultural, regulatory, and infrastructural forces are shaping progress differently across continents.

From direct-to-digital tissue imaging considered an alternative to frozen sections in Asia, to legal hurdles in Europe, we discuss what’s advancing adoption—and what’s still holding it back.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• [00:01:00] Direct-to-digital tissue imaging and frozen sections
• [00:03:00] Glass-free pathology and multimodal imaging potential
• [00:04:00] Legal and regulatory challenges in Europe
• [00:05:00] Innovation through low-resource workarounds in Asia
• [00:07:00] Building cross-continental collaboration between societies
• [00:08:00] The rise of digital pathology superstars across Asia
• [00:09:00] Upcoming European and Asian conferences and initiatives
  
  
  

🎧 Tune in to hear how Asia and Europe are reimagining pathology—one regulation, one society, and one scanner at a time.

Event Details:

21st European Congress on Digital Pathology

2nd Annual Congress of the Asian Society of Digital Pathology 2025

#DigitalPathology #GlobalDiagnostics #AsianSocietyPathology #EuropeanPathology #DirectToDigital

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Send us a text

At the last Pathology Visions 2024, I sat down with Imogen Fitt of Signify Research and Nick Best from Pathology News for a candid, energetic recap of what’s really shaping the future of digital pathology.

We discuss how two pathologists drove digital pathology adoption in their lab, the reality behind radiology partnerships, the cautionary tale of AI burnout, and how the Technology Buyer’s Guide helps pathologists navigate endless scanner options. From standardization and DICOM to staffing crises, remote workflows, and even Meta glasses—we covered it all.

🧠 Key Moments:

• [00:01:00] Radiology’s growing influence on pathology strategy
• [00:03:00] AI burnout, buzz fatigue & managing adoption expectations
• [00:06:00] Flexibility & staffing: How 2 pathologists drove digital adoption
• [00:08:00] Virtual staining & next-gen imaging excitement
• [00:10:00] Technology Buyer’s Guide: Compare solutions by criteria
• [00:12:00] The “train station” metaphor of the digital pathology journey
• [00:15:00] Wearable AI assistants, Meta glasses & augmented diagnostics
• [00:18:00] Why DICOM will win the standardization race
• [00:21:00] Looking ahead to Pathology Visions 2025 in San Diego
  
  

🎧 Tune in to hear how strategy, storytelling, and community are moving the field forward—one scanner, slide, and conversation at a time.

Episode Resources:

• Pathology News Website
• Technology Buyers Guide
• Signify Research Website
  
  

#DigitalPathology #PathologyVisions #AIinHealthcare #DICOM #VendorSelection

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Send us a text

“It used to take 40 minutes, now it takes 15” - this is what Dr. Alae Kawam said about her AI-powered prostate biopsy evaluation workflow.

In this energizing episode of the Digital Pathology Podcast recorded at PathVisions 2024, Dr. Alae Kawam joins me to reflect on where pathology is headed—from AI-assisted prostate diagnostics to direct-to-digital imaging and beyond. Together, we unpack what’s working, what still feels clunky, and why standardization, staffing flexibility, and smarter AI are critical to the next phase of pathology adoption.

🧠 Key Highlights:

• [00:01:00] Foundation models finally reach real-world pathology
  
  
  
• [00:02:00] Direct-to-digital imaging vs. glass hesitation
  
  
  
• [00:03:00] AI in prostate diagnosis: Gleason grading + time saved
  
  
  
• [00:04:00] The “eyeball method” vs. reproducible AI precision
  
  
  
• [00:05:00] DICOM and radiology’s standardization lessons
  
  
  
• [00:06:00] The ROI debate: business, operations & wellness
  
  
  
• [00:08:00] Staffing retention driving real-world digitization
  
  
  
• [00:09:00] New paths to part-time work with digital options
  
  
  
• [00:10:00] Networking, community & raising the online voice of pathology
  
  

#DigitalPathology #AIinDiagnostics #PathologyWorkflow #DirectToDigital

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Send us a text

What does it take to build a digital pathology movement across the most diverse region on Earth?

In this episode of the Digital Pathology Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Junya Fukuoka, practicing pathologist, educator, and founder of the Asian Society of Digital Pathology (ASDP).

From Japan to India, Saudi Arabia to South Korea, Asia’s digital pathology adoption is growing rapidly—and Dr. Fukuoka is helping lead the charge.

We talk about why digital access, multilingual support, and patient advocacy are central to pathology adoption across Asia’s diverse regions.

We also explore what it means to “skip” a step in tech, and why static images and direct-to-digital imaging may be Asia’s most powerful tools.

🧠 Key Topics Covered:

• [00:01:00] Founding ASDP and the need for regional unification
• [00:03:00] Digital pathology in Japan: research, practice & education
• [00:05:00] Patient visibility, advocacy & the gateway to treatment
• [00:08:00] The speed of diagnosis when pathology goes digital
• [00:10:00] AI’s role in standardizing immunohistochemistry scoring
• [00:13:00] Diversity in Asia and the power of real-time translation
• [00:17:00] Static image pathology and skipping scanner dependence
• [00:21:00] Stats: 400 attendees, 45 vendors, 29 countries at ASDP
• [00:24:00] Invitation to the 2025 ASDP Congress in Mumbai, India
  
  

🎧 Listen now to learn how ASDP is empowering digital pathology with community, innovation, and inclusivity.

Episode Resources:
🔗 Join ASDP: https://asdp.ai

#DigitalPathology #ASDP #PathologyInnovation #GlobalHealth #AsiaInTech

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Send us a text

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Hamid Tizhoosh, professor of biomedical informatics at the Mayo Clinic, to unravel what’s truly holding back AI in healthcare, especially pathology.

From the myths of general-purpose foundation models to the missing link of data availability, this conversation explores the technical and ethical realities of deploying AI that’s accurate, consistent, lean, fast, and robust.

📌 Topics We Cover

• [00:01:00] The five essential qualities AI must meet to be usable
• [00:04:00] Why foundation models often fail in histopathology
• [00:08:00] What “graceful failure” looks like in AI for diagnostics
• [00:13:00] The problem with data silos and missing clinical records
• [00:22:00] Why specialization in AI models is non-negotiable
• [00:34:00] The role of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)
• [00:43:00] How transformer models broke away from brain mimicry
• [00:50:00] Academic dishonesty, publication pressure & bias
• [01:04:00] Decentralized AI and why it won’t solve big problems
• [01:12:00] Data diversity, disparity, and the realities of healthcare bias
  
  

🔍 If you’ve ever wondered why AI tools stall in real-world pathology labs, this episode breaks it down with honesty, clarity, and vision.

THIS EPISODE’S RESOURCES:

• Foundation Models and Information Retrieval in Digital Pathology (Paper)
• Foundation Models and Information Retrieval in Digital Pathology (Video)
• This episode on YouTube

#DigitalPathology #AIinMedicine #ClinicalAI #PathologyInnovation #BiasInAI

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!