Incorporating Digital Pathology into Patient Conversations

Advances in digital pathology and artificial intelligence are transforming diagnostic workflows, yet their translation into meaningful patient-centered information remains limited. Since 2021, under the 21st Century Cures Act Information Blocking Rule, patients have had access to their pathology reports - yet these results are often misinterpreted by patients and clinicians alike. The digitization of pathology slides and deep-learning models offer a powerful opportunity to bridge this gap, enabling richer, more visual patient-pathologist interactions that bring clarity to complex diagnoses.A recent DPA member survey found that over 84% of pathologists want to offer patient consultations - yet most lack the workflow to do so.This panel explores how digital slides and AI-driven tools are reshaping the pathology clinic model - moving beyond static reports toward dynamic, image-based conversations between pathologists and their patients. When a patient can view their own digital slide and have a pathologist walk them through what the tissue reveals, abstract findings become tangible and understandable.Our panel will feature an oral cancer survivor who experienced misdiagnosis and only accessed her digitized pathology slides years later - and now uses them to educate and advocate internationally. A practicing neuropathologist will share her experience building toward a digital pathology clinic model - including how AI can offer objectivity, reassurance, and help demystify diagnosis. Finally, an AI pathology leader will explore how foundation models and AI-generated insights are creating a more transparent diagnostic journey for patients.Connecting digital innovation to patient care in pathology is both feasible and impactful. The integration of digital slides into pathology clinics offers a promising and scalable pathway toward a more transparent, patient-centered, and technology-enabled pathology practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how digital pathology and whole slide imaging can be incorporated into patient-facing interactions in pathology
2. Describe how AI and foundation models are transforming the diagnostic journey and patient understanding in pathology
3. Describe how digital pathology enables meaningful consultations and can transform how patients understand their diagnosis