Partners in pathology: a collaborative model to bring pathology to resource poor settings

Abstract

Pathology provides a critical bridge between the patients, their physicians and the therapeutic and surgical interventions that can be provided to them. Clinicians caring for patients in resource poor settings may provide basic healthcare, which does not include access to pathologic services; however, the value of pathology in alleviating health disparities for underserved patients is substantial when implemented. Partners in health is a comprehensive, community-based healthcare organization with clinics in 7 countries-most among the poorest in the world-which has the ability to obtain surgical biopsies and, if a pathologic diagnosis can be rendered, provide treatment, and long-term follow-up. Over the past 5 years, pathologists from the Brigham and Women's Hospital have collaborated with clinicians from partners in health to meet this need which included 129 cases from Haiti and Rwanda and a range of pathology: 64 malignancies, 28 normal tissue or nondiagnostic specimens, 16 infectious or inflammatory cases, 8 benign lesions, and other rare entities. Providing pathology services in resource poor settings through collaboration with clinicians working on-site is only hindered by the establishment of a working collaboration; however, the benefits are enormous and include patient access to curative or tailored therapies, logistical management of treatment resources, and exposure of pathologists to unique and challenging cases.