USA Health Pathologist’s Research Aims to Advance Immune-Based Therapies for Treatment of Tumors

MOBILE, Ala. -- Pallavi Patil, M.D., was in her first year of medical school when a micrograph of cells captured her attention. The image, taken with a scanning electron microscope, generated her interest in studying the pathophysiology of disease.

"Pathology is the last stop in the diagnostic workup, as pathology reports determine patient treatment,” said Patil, who recently joined USA Health as a pathologist. "Pathology provides ample opportunities to pursue translational research. I chose pathology because it is a unique specialty serving as a bridge between the basic sciences and clinical medicine, where you can do both.”  

Patil, who also serves as an assistant professor of pathology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, is motivated to help patients by providing timely and accurate diagnoses. Most recently, she served as a clinical fellow in gastrointestinal and liver pathology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

Patil’s research primarily focuses on the study of immune microenvironment of tumors for advances in immune-based therapies. This research encompasses tumors of the stomach, gallbladder, esophagus, endometrium and prostate. Her other research includes the study of prognostic and predictive factors in tumors including prostate, thyroid, lung, breast, soft tissue, ovary, kidney, endometrium, liver and bile duct tumors.

Born in India, Patil earned her medical degree at Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. She completed a residency in pathology at the Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai, before moving to the United States for further training.

"Books for medical education and evidence-based guidelines emerging from western medicine inspired me to pursue training in the United States,” Patil said.

She completed a research fellowship in anatomic pathology at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, followed by residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at Brown University in Providence, R.I.

The College of American Pathologists recognized Patil as the 2018 CAP Resident of the Year for her outstanding contributions to the specialties of pathology and laboratory medicine. In recognition of her contributions to mentoring and research, Patil was named to the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 40 Under Forty in 2018. That same year, she was recognized as an ASCP Choosing Wisely Champion for promoting effective test utilization.

Patil is board certified by the American Board of Pathology.