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Chemical Pathology

Our division's faculty have a combined 75+ years of laboratory experience and professional service with an established global network of colleagues in clinical chemistry, clinical pathology and laboratory medicine.  This includes active leadership roles and networking in the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and its Academy, the American Society of Clinical Pathology and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.  In turn, the use of these extensive relationships enables our division to access the operational best practices that are cornerstones in the administration of our laboratory offerings.

The breadth of technology and equipment utilized throughout this division includes analytical principles that achieve next generation sensitivity with enhanced specificity and accuracy.  In our new Regional Laboratory set to open in mid-2021, the Core Laboratory will employ state-of-the-art automation including several high volume analyzers and workstations that provide rapid throughput while meeting medically required levels of clinical quality and analytical precision.  Our array of analytical equipment also includes highly specialized chemiluminescent immunoassay instrumentation and instrumentation that employs whole blood analysis to meet the needs of the acutely ill patient. Our Special Chemistry section offers a full range of automated electrophoretic, chromatographic, and fluorescence microscopic technologies to directly support services in areas of excellence such as Hematologic Oncology, Transplantation, and Rheumatology.

We recognize and embrace the academic foundations of our parent institution, Loyola University of Chicago and those of our clinical employer, Trinity Health.  It is our commitment to instill these same values in those entrusted to train with us.

The Pathology Resident rotations through Clinical Chemistry focus on the role of the Pathologist as a Clinical Consultant.  Knowledge of the analytical process and analytical principles, in addition to the pre-analytical and post-analytical variables that contribute to the accuracy of test results is essential to address the questions and concerns with interpreting laboratory results and providing guidance as to the recommended supplemental testing when interacting with the patient care team and primary care physician.  We accomplish these objectives by organizing the Clinical Chemistry rotations to include all areas of the division: General Chemistry, Toxicology, Endocrinology, Immunoserology, and Near-Patient Testing. The rotations are highly structured and involve bench rotations, didactic lectures, journal clubs, and patient case investigations. The resident learns basic and advanced aspects of laboratory management through problem-based learning exercises in applications of statistics, informatics, quality management, laboratory utilization and adherence to regulatory requirements. 

Opportunities to participate in 'real-world' laboratory quality initiatives are an essential component of our curriculum. Our faculty mentor projects and exercises requiring the mining, evaluation, management, organization, and presentation of clinical data.  Project based learning provides opportunities for publications and attendance at national conferences and international symposia to present one's work and its impact on patient care and quality management.

The diverse patient populations we serve and the employing the spectrum of technologies we direct provide many opportunities for case-based learning.  Through graduated responsibility, our residents gain experience by taking call and assisting other medical residents on addressing questions on the suitability of referring samples for esoteric testing, assessing the need for reflexive or subsequent testing, and interpreting unanticipated findings. These types of 'real-world' learning experiences go well beyond textbooks and the literature.  These examples are the essence of the training that our residents will carry with them once they become board certified Clinical Pathologists.

Regarding applied and clinical research, our faculty members' areas of interest include quality management, laboratory utilization, disease pathophysiology (particularly, at present, COVID-19), endocrinology, diabetes management, toxicology, biomarkers of tissue injury and repair(particularly cardiac markers), protein metabolism, appropriate use of reference intervals, and the effect of pre-analytical variables on laboratory tests. Collaborations for research are abundant including those with clinical colleagues in Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Neurology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Oncology, Infectious Disease and Primary Care.