The Mission of the Association for Pathology Informatics is to promote the field of pathology informatics as an academic and a clinical subspecialty of pathology.
Specific Aims
The data sets used in pathology informatics include clinical tests, anatomic pathology reports, image files, telepathology data, and large scale experiments including gene, proteomic and tissue array studies. The Association will support advances in the field of Pathology Informatics through research, education, scientific meetings, and through electronic and printed communications. The Association will develop standards for reporting, transferring, storing, and merging confidential and other pathology-related information. The Association will play an active role in legal, ethical, social, regulatory, and governmental issues related to pathology informatics, and it will also seek to develop relationships with other professional societies and industry partners that share similar interests and goals.
What We Do
Pathology Informatics involves collecting, examining, reporting, and storing large complex sets of data derived from tests performed in clinical laboratories, anatomic pathology laboratories, or research laboratories in order to improve patient care and enhance our understanding of disease-related processes.
Pathology Informaticians seek to continuously improve existing laboratory information technology and enhance the value of existing laboratory test data, and develop computational algorithms and models aimed at deriving clinical value from new data sources.
Recent API Achievements
- API is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to the field of service/research pathology informatics and supports a set of wide-ranging educational efforts in the discipline.
- API sponsors the Pathology Informatics national meeting and is actively involved in events with the College of American Pathologists and other national organizations.
- API sponsors pathology resident and fellow travel awards to the Pathology Informatics national meeting and encourages greater interest in Pathology Informatics among pathology residents and fellows. (See “Travel Awards“)
- API has published a comprehensive set of learning objectives and skill sets for training in Pathology Informatics for pathology residents to encourage the integration of a high quality informatics experience within pathology residency programs (Henricks et al, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2003; 127: 1009-1018).
- API has initiated an annual Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize the contributions made by the thought leaders in Pathology Informatics; the award is presented at the Pathology Informatics national meeting.
- The API listserv provides a forum for spirited discussion about informatics topics and allows members access to breaking news in the industry.
- The recently redesigned API Web site provides information about the organization and also links to other pathology and bioinformatics resources.
- API provides a leadership role in the promotion of data standards relating to both pathology research and service pathology to encourage effecting reporting and integration of pathology data.
