Meet Dr. Greg Osmond, a board-certified pathologist, dermatopathologist, and expert on cutaneous diseases. He is also the chief medical officer and cofounder of PathologyWatch, a full-service dermpath lab that combines dermpath expertise with cutting-edge AI technology.
For over a decade, Dr. Osmond has studied the growing field of dermatopathology and accompanying forms of cancer. While completing his residency at Duke University, Dr. Osmond discovered the benefit of utilizing digital technologies in the early detection and diagnosis of skin cancer and other diseases.
“I have been privileged to train under, work in, and consult with some of the best hospital systems and pathology departments in the country,” said Osmond. “Health systems and providers are looking for ways to enhance efficiencies in providing care while simultaneously improving quality.”
To meet this need, Osmond, along with cofounders Dan Lambert and Michael Torno, created PathologyWatch to bring cutting-edge digital technology to pathology. We sat down with Dr. Osmond to discuss his view on the changing landscape of dermatology and the increasing importance of utilizing a digital dermatopathology workflow.
Digital imaging has existed for decades. Why are dermatologists now becoming interested in this technology?
There has never been a greater need for dermatopathologists to lend their talents and expertise to diagnose our growing populations. In the last decade alone, new cancer cases have risen 40 percent in the United States. Digital pathology has quickly proven itself as a viable option as diagnosis using digital slides has been shown to be equivalent to diagnosis from glass slides. Without question, modern advances are simpler, more efficient, and better at facilitating doctor–patient interaction.
What are the benefits of adopting digital dermatopathology?
Keeping up with increasing demand underlines the need for dermatologists to look toward evolutionary innovations. Whole-slide imaging has introduced measurable advantages that modern practices can use to improve workflow, decrease turnaround time, reduce errors, experience the instant access of an EMR interface, and take advantage of academic-level dermatopathologist reads. Put simply, digital dermatopathology cuts down on physician time and error, resulting in a simpler, more streamlined workflow and a high level of patient care and satisfaction.
What are the current challenges, and how do we solve them?
Currently, there are four main barriers to enter digital dermatopathology: high acquisition costs, specialized software and hardware requirements, IT infrastructure demands, and insufficient quality of digital slides. PatholologyWatch gives dermatologists the ability to harness the benefits of digital pathology by circumventing these barriers. Clients aren’t required to pay setup, storage, or licensing fees directly. With web-based delivery, the only requirement is a valid internet connection. This ensures ease of access during discussions with patients and the ability to share and review slides in real time. Digital dermatopathology also allows for increased interaction between dermatologists and dermatopathologists, opening the door for collaboration, education, and continued advancement.
Arguably, with these advances in technology, there has never been a better time in the world of dermatology and dermatopathology. “The bottom line is that patients come first,” said Osmond. “The beautiful thing is that what improves care for patients also serves dermatologists.”
What’s next for Dr. Osmond?
The underdeveloped world is of particular interest and concern for Osmond. “When you learn that 45 percent of the world doesn’t currently have access to diagnostics, largely due to the cost of care, you want to do something to change that,” he said. “Optimally developed algorithms working in tandem with an expert pathology service model will hopefully improve the quality of care and allow for the cost of care to drop to an affordable price point for all patients, both domestically and internationally. That’s our goal.”
Gregory Osmond, MD, MPH, completed a pathology residency (AP/CP) at Duke University, where he developed an interest and expertise in digital pathology while completing a GME concentration track in health policy, law, and ethics focused on innovative business models and regulation associated with digital pathology. This was followed by a dermatopathology fellowship in the combined Harvard program (MGH, B&W, BID). In recent years, he has been involved with multiple pathology-related technology platforms and companies. He received a BS degree from Brigham Young University in neuroscience, a master’s degree in public health (MPH) from the University of Utah, and an MD from Duke University. He also has a significant interest in the implementation and utilization of diagnostic services in underdeveloped settings.
PathologyWatch is the groundbreaking leader of digital dermatopathology services. Through these services, dermatology clinics, hospitals, and laboratories can improve operational efficiency by speeding up workflow and enhancing patient outcomes by utilizing the PathologyWatch expert professional team and partner laboratory services. This can facilitate best-in-class reads and, in some cases, enable additional revenue to the practice by in-housing pathology. With an intuitive and easy-to-implement digital pathology solution that includes access to top-tier dermatopathologists and a streamlined clinical workflow that interfaces directly into the EMR, PathologyWatch brilliantly combines state-of-the-art technology and clinical decision-making to deliver unprecedented patient care.
For more information, email info@pathologywatch.com or visit www.pathologywatch.com.
