Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to advance the field of pathology, fundamentally changing how diseases are understood, diagnosed, and treated. At the forefront of this transformation is Duke's Department of Pathology, in collaboration with Duke Artificial Intelligence (AI) Health.

Fred Sanfilippo, PhD’75, MD’76, Duke Pathology resident, fellow, faculty alumnus, and adjunct professor, has been an internationally recognized physician-scientist and academic medicine leader for over four decades.

Soman Abraham, BS, MS, PhD, has been searching for an effective treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) for over 40 years. His recent discovery of a unique bladder immune response focused on repair rather than eradicating bacteria is guiding his efforts to create an effective vaccine.

Ken H. Young, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and director of Duke's Division of Hematopathology, began his journey into hematopathology with a fascination for understanding diseases at the cellular and molecular levels. "The complex nature of the disease and its value to improve clinical management in patients is what attracted me to pathology," he explained.

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.

When not behind a 1950s microscope, Alphonse Von Schoote, a junior assistant pathology resident, could be found beneath Duke’s most coveted mask: its Blue Devil mascot, becoming the first medical student to strut its coveted cape.