Digital Pathology & Patient Impact: The Michigan Medicine Pathology Clinic Experience

This presentation, co-developed by Michele Mitchell (Patient Advocate), Dr. Rouba Ali-Fehmi, MD (Professor and Medical Director of Breast Pathology), and Dr. Mustafa Qays Yousif, MD (Director of Digital Pathology, Department of Pathology, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Breast Pathology), explores how digital pathology is transforming patient education and empowerment at Michigan Medicine. It centers on the Breast Pathology Consultation Program-an initiative that uses digital tools to enhance understanding, support shared decision-making, and promote patient engagement.The session highlights the perspective of a breast cancer survivor and advocate. Diagnosed in 2006 with Stage 1A Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative), Michele Mitchell underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and long-term hormonal therapy. Years later, she viewed a digital representation of her own cancer-a moment that clarified the nature of her disease, including tumor grade, and transformed her understanding. This deeply personal experience inspired her commitment to advancing patient access to diagnostic tools and the power of digital pathology.Mitchell now serves as Co-Chair of the Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), which formally recommended the development of the Breast Pathology Consultation Program in 2023. She also advises several institutional and national efforts aimed at improving transparency, trust, and engagement in healthcare.Dr. Ali-Fehmi and Dr. Yousif will detail how digital pathology is used in the Breast Pathology Consultation Clinic, which has supported more than 120 patients in understanding their disease and engaging more confidently in their care. They will discuss how digitized pathology images and patient-pathologist dialogue improve comprehension and decision-making, helping to bridge the gap between diagnosis and treatment.This presentation will demonstrate the role of digital pathology as a tool to empower patients, personalize care, and improve patient-provider communication. Together, the presenters will showcase a model of innovation and collaboration that may be replicable at other institutions.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand how exploring digital pathology can enhance patient education and empowerment, as evidenced by the 120+ patients who have benefited from Michigan Medicine's Breast Pathology Consultation Program.
2. Recognize the impact of viewing digital pathology slides combined with an explanation from the diagnosing pathologist on patient understanding and treatment decisions.
3. Learn how improved patient-pathologist interactions can enhance trust, adherence to treatment plans, and overall patient outcomes.