Message From the MacKenzie Chair of Pathology
The mission of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at University of Cincinnati and its health system partner, UC Health, is to achieve academic excellence in patient care, translational and basic research, and medical education along the undergraduate to postgraduate continuum. The Department and UC Health Laboratories are growing rapidly to meet this challenge, and the past year witnessed momentous achievements demonstrating continued significant support from the leadership of University of Cincinnati.
Newly re-established histology and cytology laboratories, together with our recent opening of a molecular anatomic pathology laboratory, now provide cutting edge capabilities in support of patient care as well as our residency education program. Our animal histology core laboratory is under design and will soon be providing support for the many UC investigators whose projects require our expertise.
Our clinical laboratories have also grown dramatically. Microbiology is housed in a state of the art facility to include molecular microbiology as well as a BSL level 3 laboratory for mycobacteriology and mycology. Our flow cytometry laboratory is now in place, and a full menu of specialized coagulation testing is nearing completion. Special immunology and protein testing will be on board in the fall of 2012, and full toxicology testing based on liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy will also appear in this time frame.
With this growth on the clinical side, the Department is adding to its faculty and the UC Health system is expanding its technical personnel pool. The clinical faculty is slated to double its size over the next 2-3 years, and this growth will focus on targeted subspecialties as well as clinician-scientists, with the expectation that academic output will substantially increase.
The Department places great emphasis on medical education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Its longstanding commitment to excellence continues as the College moves to an integrated medical school curriculum and numerous faculty take an active role in this effort. The full five year ACGME accreditation of our pathology residency program (AP/CP, AP, and CP) is testimony to the strength of our residents and faculty in their collaborative effort to train the next generation of pathologists. Our graduating residents compete very successfully for a variety of fellowships at institutions across the country. Finally, our Ph.D. program in Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine, jointly run with the Department of Internal Medicine, produces outstanding investigators who continue to reap national recognition for their research efforts.
The Department has historically provided a very strong basic science research program, currently with focus on lipid metabolism and obesity, cardiovascular disease, and fungal pathogenesis. One key aspect is the Center for Lipid and Arteriosclerosis Science (CLAS), located at the Reading Campus. This Center includes 10 PI’s studying various aspects of lipid metabolism from the fetus through adulthood using a wide variety of techniques and approaches including molecular biology, physical chemistry, cell biology and whole animal physiology. Another centerpiece of the research effort is the Division of Regenerative Medicine, where 4 highly funded investigators are leading efforts in studying stem cell biology and the potential of stem cell therapy as treatment for cardiovascular disease. The Department is also home to the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC). This NIDDK funded national consortium offers state-of-the-art phenotyping services for investigators across the country to probe the metabolic consequences of genetic manipulations in mice. More specific information about these areas may be found on the link to our research page. With the rebirth of the clinical side of our group, intradepartmental collaborative and translational projects have expanded, and interdepartmental collaborations have also increased. These increased interactions will continue to be encouraged as they are vital to successful research in an era of more stringent funding levels.
Renovation of the space and facilities we occupy is ongoing as we develop new offices and laboratories for our Department. The next few years will bring continued growth and expansion with the intent of preparing our Department to be a leader in pathology well into the 21st century. We are committed to the foundation of excellence upon which the Department and University of Cincinnati rests.
We believe in a collaborative and supportive team based approach to the current and future challenges facing academic medicine and the health care delivery system. We hold each member of the Department accountable for excellence in framing the questions and contributing to the solutions which will sustain us as a regionally dominant institution. This is an incredibly exciting time to be in academic medicine, and we hope that from our web site you gain an appreciation for our Department culture and its programs. We hope the site gives you a sense of our optimistic future. I am extremely proud of the members of our Department and their commitment to clinical and academic excellence. We welcome your inquiries and/or your application to join us.
Fred V. Lucas M.D.
Associate Professor and MacKenzie Chair of Pathology