On March 4, 2025, John M. Carney, MD, was named as medical director of the Duke Medical Pavilion Surgical Pathology Laboratory. In his new role, he will ensure a seamless transition of specimens from the operative suites to the gross lab and from there to histology.
He will report to Vice Chair of Anatomic Pathology and Informatics Raj C. Dash, MD, and will work closely the Surgical Pathology Lab manager. Carney will also serve as medical director of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program in close collaboration with its program director.
“Dr. John Carney has established himself as an expert in Surgical Pathology and an astute and forward-thinking medical director in his role as associate medical director in the Division of Anatomic Pathology and Digital Analytics (DAPDA),” said Dash. “I look forward to his leadership in the Surgical Pathology Laboratory and his support of the pathologists’ assistants and of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program. I have no doubt that he will continue to excel.”
He will work with the other directors of Duke’s Anatomic Pathology laboratories and the Anatomic Pathology operations director to ensure high-quality services and the safety of patients across all DAPDA Laboratories. Recently, Carney served as the Associate Medical Director of the DAPDA under the mentoring and guidance of Elizabeth Pavlisko, MD, medical director of DAPDA.
Throughout his time in clinical practice, Carney has covered surgical pathology services in the areas of pulmonary, cardiac, and autopsy pathology. His clinical interests include non-neoplastic pulmonary pathology, with a focus on pneumoconioses and interstitial lung disease. He also maintains a strong interest in pleural malignancies/mesothelioma. These clinical interests are complimented by an enjoyment in teaching and medical education of medical students, residents, fellows, and pathology assistants.
During his time at Duke and the University of Rochester, Carney has been involved with various departmental programs and committees, including many leadership roles. He has also taken on roles outside the department, currently as a member on the College of American Pathologists Surgical Pathology Committee.
Carney completed his undergraduate medical school training at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2013. He continued his post-graduate education at Duke University, where he completed his Anatomic Pathology/Clinical Pathology residency training in 2017 and served as co-chief resident from 2015-2016. He then completed a Thoracic Pathology fellowship at Duke under the guidance of Pavlisko, Professor Victor Roggli, MD, and Adjunct Associate Professor Thomas Sporn, MD. He remained on faculty following his training as assistant professor until 2022. He briefly left Duke and was on faculty at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, before returning in January 2024.