Historical Highlights of Duke Pathology

The Department of Pathology at Duke University has a rich history of leadership, innovation, and excellence in medical education, research, and clinical practice. Established on March 11, 1929, by founding dean Wilburt C. Davison, the department has grown under the guidance of distinguished chairmen who have left an indelible mark on the field.

Wiley D. Forbus, MD, PhD, the founding chairman, served from 1930 to 1960. Trained at Johns Hopkins University, Forbus brought excellence in anatomic pathology and practiced the Socratic method of teaching through case studies. His Friday "Round Ups" and "Pathology Conferences" were legendary. Forbus established the first medical examiner system in North Carolina and received the Gold-Headed Cane Award from the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP, formerly the American Association of Pathologists) in 1975 for his contributions to pathology.

Thomas D. Kinney, MD, PhD, chairman from 1960 to 1975, was the first Duke Medical School graduate to return as a chair. He established experimental pathology and recruited outstanding faculty members. Kinney was a leader in automating clinical laboratories and developing pathology manpower. He was honored with the Thomas D. Kinney Faculty Teaching Award, reflecting his impact on medical education. Kinney received the ASIP Gold-Headed Cane Award in 1977.

Robert B. Jennings, MD, PhD, who chaired the department from 1975 to 1991, was a national and international authority on kidney and heart diseases. He performed pioneering research on acute glomerulonephritis and ischemic heart disease and recruited a world-class group of investigators to the department in the latter area. He was an early adopter of electron microscopy as a research and diagnostic tool; this remains a departmental strength. Jennings received the ASIP Gold-Headed Cane Award in 2007.

In 1991, following a stint by John D. Shelburne, MD, PhD, as interim chairman, Salvatore V. Pizzo, MD, PhD, took over as chairman, spearheading the restructuring of laboratory and research activities under managed care. He consolidated diagnostic laboratories and recruited new faculty with subspecialty expertise, ensuring excellence in medical student and resident teaching. Pizzo’s research focused on the interface between blood proteins and the vessel wall.

David N. Howell, MD, PhD, served as interim chairman in 2015, followed by Jiaoti Huang, MD, PhD, who became chairman in January 2016. Huang, an expert in genitourinary pathology, has continued the department’s legacy of excellence, with active research in prostate cancer’s molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and histological diagnosis.

"Since its founding, our department has been leading the field in research, patient care, and education. Legendary figures of pathology have worked here, and their work has transformed the field of pathology. Our department has also produced numerous leaders in pathology who work across the country. We are very proud to be associated with this storied department," Huang said.

Huang has been a pivotal leader, mentor, and scientist. As an internationally renowned surgical pathologist and prostate cancer researcher for over 20 years, Huang is a leading authority in studying molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and novel therapeutics for prostate cancer. Huang’s research has been funded at a high level by the federal government and private foundations.

Duke Pathology resident, fellow, faculty alumnus, and adjunct professor, Fred Sanfilippo, PhD ’75, MD ’76, will receive the Gold-Headed Cane Award in 2025. Sanfilippo remarked, “This is a big deal for me because I consider this to be the ultimate award in the field of pathology. The awardees are all luminaries, and I’m not like those who have won it, typically. I’m a pathologist now, but for 20 years I wasn’t. I’m very proud to be considered in that class of company. It’s very humbling.”

The Department of Pathology at Duke remains at the forefront of medical innovation, driven by a commitment to research, education, and clinical excellence. This legacy of leadership and groundbreaking contributions continues to shape the future of pathology. Its chairs and their coworkers have advanced our knowledge of the pathogenesis of disease to an extraordinary degree, particularly in the crucial areas of cardiac ischemia, vascular biology, and neoplasia. At the same time, they have invariably been devoted diagnosticians and teachers, always willing to share time at the microscope and inspire the next generation of pathologists.