In a time of rapid transformation across healthcare, Harsh Thaker, MD, PhD, is positioning the UTMB Health Department of Pathology at the forefront of innovation.
“We are living in a very eventful time in healthcare. There's a lot going on in terms of innovation and care delivery, and of course, AI (artificial intelligence) is a big component of it,” says Dr. Thaker, who was named Chair in May 2026 after serving as interim Chair since July 2025.
Powered by digital tools, AI, and a renewed focus on clinical collaboration, Pathology is evolving beyond its traditional role to become a significant driver of clinical decision-making.
“We are moving away from hiding behind the microscope and becoming more front and center in the healthcare team,” Dr. Thaker says.
In areas such as prostate and breast cancer detection, for example, AI tools assist pathologists by flagging potential abnormalities, confirming diagnoses, and improving overall accuracy.
The benefits extend beyond accuracy. Digital workflows enable more precise measurement and more consistent reporting, shifting pathology from primarily qualitative interpretation to more quantitative, reproducible data.
At the same time, these advances streamline workflows and allow pathologists to focus on more complex and high-value cases – underscoring Dr. Thaker’s point that AI is not replacing pathologists. Rather, it strengthens their work and enhances confidence in diagnostic decisions.
“The pathologist assumes complete responsibility. AI is still an assistive and quality assurance tool,” he says.
Innovation is also reshaping laboratory medicine. Dr. Thaker says UTMB is leveraging generative AI and large language models to produce integrated, interpretive reports that go beyond standard lab results. In cases of unexplained anemia, for example, this approach improves patient care while also helping address access challenges by reducing unnecessary specialty referrals.
“Now the primary care doctors can send us a request to evaluate the patient, and we can send back specific management recommendations and avert the need for a specialized hematology consult,” he says, “so that our colleagues in heme-onc can focus on those really serious patients who might need more urgent care.”
Dr. Thaker also highlights efforts to better connect primary care and specialty services. By embedding clinical guidance into pathology reports, such as for chronic kidney disease, UTMB is helping clinicians identify at-risk patients earlier, stage disease appropriately, and ensure timely referrals when needed.
“We are aligning ourselves with the access goals of the health system and trying to deliver better, more comprehensive care,” he says.
Additionally, the department is expanding into pharmacogenomics, offering testing that helps providers understand how genetic variation may affect a patient’s response to medications.
Dr. Thaker says this has significant implications for commonly prescribed treatments, including antidepressants, statins, and anticoagulants.
By leveraging the vast amount of diagnostic data generated in the lab, pathologists are uniquely positioned to support clinical decisions and evaluate emerging technologies such as AI – representing an evolution from simply delivering test results to providing integrated, clinically meaningful insights.
As UTMB Pathology unlocks new innovations that enhance clinical effectiveness institution-wide, Dr. Thaker is eager to showcase the department’s growing roster of services to physicians at UTMB and in the community.
“Some of the work we are doing is in the background, but we have a lot to offer,” he says. “We do not want to be a well-kept secret.”
 | Harsh Thaker, MD, PhD, is Chair of the Department of Pathology in the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB. Learn more about Pathology at UTMB Health. |