Welcome from the Chair, Andreas Friedl

Welcome to the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.Department Chair Dr. Andreas Friedl

Pathology is the study of diseases and the diagnosis of diseases by examining tissues or body fluids. Our department serves the University of Wisconsin and the community by creating and transferring knowledge of human disease and applying it to clinical diagnosis and treatment. As a result, our faculty and staff are equally dedicated to patient care, research and education.

Our faculty provide for patient care by examining patient samples and through leadership in the clinical laboratories at the UW Hospital and at clinics operated by UW Health. In aggregate, these laboratories analyze millions of specimens annually. The Anatomic Pathology service comprises Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology, Hematopathology and Autopsy Pathology. Subspecialty surgical pathologists are available to consult on all the organ systems and different disease categories. A major focus for the further development of our laboratories will be the expansion of our capabilities in molecular pathology and genomics, particularly as they apply to cancer and infectious diseases.

While research in our department is broad and varied, all investigators share a focus on human disease. Exciting current work aims at understanding the immune system and its importance in multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis and viral infections including HIV/AIDS. Our scientists study stem cells, tissue regeneration and eye diseases such as glaucoma. Some of our faculty study cancer and try to understand the molecular mechanisms of tumor growth and metastasis. Most of this work is funded by grants from federal agencies like the NIH and philanthropic organizations.

Teaching is an integral part of our mission. Pathologists teach at multiple levels ranging from undergraduate to medical and graduate students, to residents and fellows in pathology and other clinical specialties. We are the only clinical department at this institution with its own NIH (T32)-funded graduate program. A unique aspect of the training program is its focus on basic and translational research in human disease. Graduate student trainers have appointments in our department and many basic science and clinical departments across the School of Medicine and Public Health.

I encourage you to explore the website and learn more about our department and the exciting fields of pathology and laboratory medicine.

 

Andreas Friedl, MD
Professor and Chair