The Pathology Report – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host Dr Ian Gassiep is joined by A/Prof Octavia Peck Palmer, a clinical chemist and director at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dr Niti Dawar, a senior manager in medical and scientific affairs at Roche Diagnostics, and A/Prof Ken Sikaris, head of chemical pathology at Dorevitch Pathology for a focused discussion on the role of pathology in detecting and managing sepsis.

They take a look at the global and national burden of sepsis, highlighting mortality rates and the importance of early detection and go on to discuss how laboratories support early diagnosis through tailored test menus, rapid turnaround times, and actionable results. In examining the strengths and limitations of current biomarkers, such as CRP, procalcitonin, and interleukins, they highlight that the choice of biomarkers and laboratory strategy must be context-specific and adapted to the availability of local resources.

The episode also explores equity and access, considering differences between primary and tertiary care, the expanding role of point-of-care testing, and how AI and data integration may sharpen diagnostic accuracy. Importantly, the panel stresses the need for equitable testing practices, recognising the influence of social determinants of health and cautioning against misinterpreting race in laboratory reference intervals.

The discussion underscores the value of collaboration and clinician education, noting that successful sepsis management depends on close integration of laboratory capabilities, clinical decision making and emerging technologies. Together, our guests call for continued research, wider access to diagnostics and equity-minded practice to improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host Dr Kym Mina is joined by Prof Ainsley Newson, Professor of Bioethics at the University of Sydney, Dr Samantha Sundercombe, a genetic pathologist at Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, and A/Prof Ilias Goranitis, head of economics of genomics and precision medicine at the University of Melbourne, to discuss the complexities relating to health, economics and ethics in the field of genomics.

In a wide-ranging discussion, our guests reflect on the role of bioethics in pathology practice and unpack the ethical dilemmas involved in reproductive genetics, where reproductive autonomy must be balanced against the constraints generated through expanding genomic testing. They also explore the tension between technological advancement and patient demand, and how these pressures raise significant ethical questions.

A/Prof Goranitis highlights the contribution of health economics, noting that genomics delivers benefits far beyond traditional health outcomes, while the panel examines issues of equity and funding, and the importance of ensuring fair access to testing. The discussion touches on the practical realities of laboratory policy making, where individual patient needs must be balanced with standardised practices.

They conclude that people need to engage with the ethical, economic and clinical challenges at the heart of genomics, and to consider how these forces are shaping the future of healthcare.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host Dr Mags Strauss is joined by guests A/Prof Octavia Peck Palmer, Prof Leslie Burnett AM and Dr Timothy Fazio to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, big data and pathology.

A/Prof Peck Palmer, a clinical chemist and director at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, discusses the importance of ensuring that big data reflects diverse populations and addresses healthcare equity, emphasising the need for collaboration between data experts and clinicians to address healthcare gaps effectively.

Prof Burnett AM, a pathologist from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney and Virtus Diagnostics, sheds light on harnessing AI to augment human abilities in diagnostics without fear of overdiagnosis. He elaborates on how AI enables pathologists to manage larger datasets and uncover patterns that enhance diagnostic accuracy.

Dr Fazio, a health informatician and metabolic physician, delves into the practical applications of predictive modelling in clinical settings. He discusses the balance between AI handling simple tasks and the implications for clinician workload and education as AI takes on more complex responsibilities.

Key topics covered in the episode include:

• The role of AI in enhancing pathology diagnostics and identifying healthcare disparities.
• The impact of AI on overdiagnosis and how models mirror traditional diagnostic test characteristics.
• Data ownership and sovereignty concerns, particularly relating to cross-border data sharing and ensuring patient consent.
• Different views on implementing data insights in clinical and laboratory settings to personalise patient care.

They then reflect on the balance between routine automation and the potential cognitive burden on clinicians, emphasising the importance of evolving medical education to align with technological advancements.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) is proud to present The Pathology Report – a podcast exploring the latest insights, innovations, and challenges in pathology.

In Season One, recorded live at Pathology Update 2025, we bring you conversations with leading experts in pathology and laboratory medicine. Each episode delves into key areas of the field, highlighting the pivotal role pathology plays in modern healthcare.

Stay tuned for the first episodes, landing soon in your favourite podcast feed.

Find out more at rcpa.edu.au.

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host Dr Ian Gassiep is joined by Prof Caitlin Keighley, a microbiologist and infectious diseases physician at Southern IML Pathology in Wollongong, to discuss the vital yet often misunderstood role of pathology stewardship in healthcare.

They explore what stewardship looks like in real-world practice and how it shapes patient care. Prof Keighley defines pathology stewardship as “doing the right test for the right patient at the right time,” emphasising that the ultimate goal is better outcomes, not just cost savings. Together, Prof Keighley and Dr Gassiep debate this tension between cost and clinical value, the role of electronic decision support systems in test ordering and the challenges of balancing efficiency with issues such as alert fatigue and workflow disruption, particularly for junior doctors and GPs.

Prof Keighley examines the issue of selective reporting in microbiology, where limiting the antibiotics displayed on lab reports can help reduce resistance, citing some Australian examples that are showing its real-world impact.

The podcast highlights the practical realities of stewardship, from clashes between test rejection rules and rural healthcare needs to the question of whether technology simplifies decision-making or complicates it. It concludes with reflections on Australia’s strong governance and regulatory frameworks, and how the country consistently delivers high-quality health outcomes at a relatively low per-capita spend on pathology and medicines.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host A/Prof Daniel Owens is joined by forensic pathologists Dr Jack Garland, Dr Stephen Wills and Dr Hans de Boer to explore how evidence in forensic pathology is interpreted, presented and examined.

Our guests share personal insights into what it's like to provide expert opinions in legal and courtroom contexts. In discussing the practical realities of forensic evidence interpretation and the professional responsibilities of expert witnesses, they highlight the importance of remaining grounded and being honest about their limitations.

The key, they say, is to help courts to make informed decisions based on the evidence, while carefully navigating the complex and often unrealistic expectations of the legal system.

This podcast provides information for pathologists, laboratory scientists and other clinicians involved in medicolegal practice and tackles some important questions:

• How do you distinguish between evidence and opinion?
• What is the role of empirical evidence?
• How do you define ‘evidence robustness’?
• How do you handle courtroom testimony challenges?
• What is the impact of the media on forensics?
• What is the influence of experience?
• How do you deal with complex case scenarios?

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host Dr Leo Lam is joined by A/Prof Vanessa Tyrrell, Program Director of the Zero Childhood Cancer National Precision Medicine Program (ZERO), to discuss the development and application of precision medicine in the context of childhood cancer.

A/Prof Tyrrell provides a practical overview of how genomics and integrated multi-omics approaches are being used to improve outcomes for children with cancer in Australia.

She explains the origins and growth of the Zero Childhood Cancer Program, from when it began in 2015 for high-risk patients to its expansion nationwide, and how comprehensive testing, including whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, methylation profiling, and laboratory-based cancer models and high throughput drug screening, is now informing both prognosis and targeted therapy selection.

A/Prof Tyrrell discusses the clinical impact of precision medicine, from risk stratification to personalised treatment pathways, including emerging roles for immunotherapy and RNA vaccines. In this, she emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, clinician engagement and addressing the psychosocial impact on children, families and healthcare teams.

Looking ahead, A/Prof Tyrrell shares her vision for the next decade where precision medicine could move from research into routine care, becoming an integral part of health systems worldwide.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host Dr Mags Strauss talks with Dr Melinda Lerwill, faculty director of continuing education and accreditation at Harvard Medical School, and Prof Rosemary Balleine, a clinical professor at Westmead Institute for Medical Research and the University of Sydney, to explore recent advances in pathology in women’s health. From molecular diagnostics to digital pathology and multidisciplinary collaboration, they discuss how innovation is transforming care for women.

Drawing on examples in breast and ovarian cancers, they highlight the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration driving better patient outcomes. They also touch on the emerging potential of digital pathology and AI in helping to improve diagnostic access and supporting remote care and reducing variation in interpretation. By identifying patterns and streamlining testing, AI promises to make diagnostics faster, more accurate and more widely available.

Dr Lerwill and Prof Balleine emphasise that with pathology evolving at such a rapid pace, staying at the forefront of new tools, research and treatments is key to ensure pathologists can continue to deliver the highest standard of care for women.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host Dr Mags Strauss is joined by Dr Matt Wheeler, a haematologist and general physician based in New Zealand, to explore the critical issue of Indigenous health disparities and discuss the potential of co-design in developing more equitable healthcare services.

They begin with an analysis of how traditional data-driven approaches often fall short in addressing the unique needs of Indigenous communities, highlighting the promise of co-design and Indigenous-led innovation as more culturally appropriate solutions.

Dr Wheeler shares his own professional journey and his commitment to clinical equity, emphasising the importance of decolonisation and de-learning in creating inclusive healthcare environments. Dr Wheeler and Dr Strauss discuss systemic racism and cultural biases within healthcare systems, particularly in pathology, where interactions can often lack cultural sensitivity.

This podcast also explores the current political and systemic challenges facing Indigenous healthcare in New Zealand, including the impact of disestablishing the Māori Health Authority and its implications for service design. Dr Wheeler speaks about the consequences of health inequity, noting how chronic stress from living in an unjust society can lead to poorer health outcomes. This, he says, highlights the importance of involving individuals with lived experience in designing healthcare services.

Dr Wheeler advocates for stronger Indigenous governance and leadership across healthcare, calling for systemic change to make this a reality. He highlights the importance of mentorship, noting that tailored support can help Māori Trainees navigate their careers while maintaining their cultural identities.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• 
  
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• 
  
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of The Pathology Report, host A/Prof Daniel Owens speaks with Dr Pratheepan Puvanakumar, a clinical and laboratory haematologist at Monash Health in Melbourne, and Prof Beverley Hunt, a consultant in thrombosis and haemostasis and clinical lead for haematological laboratory services at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, about critical developments in bleeding management. In their discussions, they explore practical approaches to bleeding management across obstetrics and trauma care settings.

Dr Puvanakumar shares insights on recent updates to Australian patient blood management guidelines, highlighting implementation challenges particularly affecting rural and remote healthcare providers. He emphasises the critical importance of effective communication protocols among clinicians during emergency bleeding scenarios.

Prof Hunt brings her UK perspective on major haemorrhage protocols, noting significant evidence gaps in current transfusion practices. She presents recent UK data on postpartum haemorrhage management, advocating for increased use of thromboelastography and fibrinogen monitoring to improve outcomes.

Discussions covered the practical aspects of bleeding management including:

• The implementation status of viscoelastic haemostatic assays
• Communication barriers in critical care environments
• Evidence-based approaches to transfusion practices
• Tranexamic acid use supported by CRASH-2 trial findings
• Special considerations for high-risk populations

Prof Hunt also highlights the compounded challenges facing low-resource settings where anaemia and bleeding risks intersect, emphasising the importance of nutritional support and affordable access to tranexamic acid.

This episode concludes with reflections on pathology service security following a recent UK cyber-attack that significantly disrupted hospital operations, underscoring the critical role of robust infrastructure in emergency care delivery.

RCPA Members

This podcast is an RCPA-endorsed CPD activity. Each episode gives you an opportunity to gain CPD hours in three easy steps:

• Step 1. Listen or watch the podcast here, on your favourite podcast channel or on YouTube
• Step 2. To claim your CPD hours, please complete and pass this short online quiz
• Step 3. Sit back and let us load your CPD hours into your CPD profile for you

The Pathology Report is produced by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network.

Learn more about the RCPA at rcpa.edu.au and discover other shows in the network at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.