Clinical Alignment
Pathology Product Development
A brilliant algorithm or elegant software platform will fail if it disrupts the pathologist's established workflow. Successful pathology product development bridges the gap between engineering innovation and clinical utility.
Who this service helps
- Product managers building pathology software or AI
- Engineering teams needing clinical workflow context
- Founders iterating on early-stage diagnostic tools
- Laboratories commercializing internal innovations
What the work can accomplish
- Product roadmaps prioritized by clinical value and integration feasibility
- Clear understanding of the LIS ecosystem and interoperability requirements
- User experience design tailored for high-volume diagnostic review
- Validation strategies that support marketing and regulatory claims
How we approach it
- We translate the physical and cognitive processes of pathology into actionable product requirements.
- We pressure-test features against real-world constraints like slow network speeds, legacy LIS systems, and variable slide quality.
- We guide the development of user interfaces that minimize clicks and cognitive load for the pathologist.
- We help position the product for seamless operational integration.
Experienced pathology leadership
David “DJ” Dalton, PhD, MBA brings more than 20 years of pathology industry experience spanning Labcorp, Paige AI, Lumea/Modella AI, digital pathology, laboratory operations, product strategy, commercialization, and executive leadership.
Last reviewed September 2026. About David Dalton
Frequently asked questions
Why do pathologists resist using new software?
Pathologists are compensated based on accuracy and volume. If new software requires extra clicks, introduces latency, or forces them to look away from the slide (or primary monitor), it is a threat to their productivity. Products must eliminate friction, not add it.
How important is LIS integration?
It is critical. A standalone product that requires duplicate data entry will rarely achieve broad adoption. Successful products integrate natively into the laboratory information system to pull patient context and push results seamlessly.
What is the biggest product development mistake in pathology?
Solving a problem that pathologists don't actually have, or solving a real problem in a way that requires changing the entire laboratory workflow to accommodate the technology.