Division of Anatomical Pathology – BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital


Division of Anatomical Pathology – BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital

The Division of Anatomical Pathology consists of a group of 8 pathologists within the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Children’s and Women’s Health Centre of British Columbia (CWBC). All pathologists also have academic appointments at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Our offices are located on the second floor of BC Children’s Hospital located above the Oak Street entrance (Entrance 11).

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Clinical Services

Surgical Pathology:

We provide surgical pathology services to CWBC, encompassing a wide spectrum of benign and malignant samples. The pathologists are supported by Pathology Assistants for gross pathology assessment of the samples. The surgical pathology service covers excisional and resection specimens, with some common sample types being: gastrointestinal, skin, liver, and soft tissue and bone biopsies, transplant biopsies from the heart and liver, and larger resections from areas throughout the body. Our team provides ocular pathology services for pediatric patients, including assessment of retinoblastoma specimens. Cytology assessment of bronchoalveolar lavages are also covered by our service.


Neuropathology:

Neuropathologists at CWBC evaluate surgical pathology specimens from the brain and spinal cord to look for neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions. The Neuropathology service also provides interpretation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. Muscle biopsies for mitochondrial and other myopathy disorders are evaluated by this service, which provides their own electron microscopy interpretation. The Neuropathology service also provides brain, spinal cord, and muscle interpretation for our Embryofetopathology and Autopsy services.


Placental Pathology:

Our placental pathology service provides assessment and interpretation of placentas from babies delivered at BC Women’s Hospital, as well as placentas delivered at other sites in British Columbia from babies referred in for care to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We provide consultation services to other pathologists throughout BC.


Autopsy and Embryofetopathology:

Our Embryofetopathology service provides assessment and interpretation of products of conception from intrauterine demise, terminations of pregnancy for anomalies, and spontaneous losses occurring up to and including 19 weeks and 6 days’ gestational age. We look for causes of in utero fetal demise, determine factors predicting increased recurrence risk in subsequent pregnancy, and describe malformations that may be diagnostic of syndromes. We also assess samples for potential molar pregnancies and gestational trophoblastic disease. Our Autopsy service provides complete, or limited per the consent form, examination of stillbirths including external examination, internal examination, and histologic examination. Special studies may include neuropathology examination, X-rays, microbiologic, and genetic studies when indicated. We also perform autopsy examinations on neonates and children related to an underlying medical condition, as well as performing autopsies in cases of natural pediatric deaths.


Educational Programs

Fellowship - Fellowship Director: Anna Lee

Our Division offers a 12-month fellowship training program in Pediatric and Perinatal Pathology for physicians who have completed post-medical school training in Anatomical or General Pathology either in Canada or internationally. The fellowship program consists of training in pediatric surgical pathology, placental/obstetrical pathology, and fetal and child autopsy, supervised by staff members of the Division. Opportunities to conduct research or quality improvement projects may also be available. Currently, we are only considering applications from candidates who have salary support provided by a sponsoring institution. For more information, please contact Anna Lee anna.lee (at)cw.bc.ca.


Anatomical and General Pathology Residents – Site Supervisor: Glenda Hendson

We are a primary training site for pathology residents to fulfill their pediatric pathology rotation, and have hosted elective pathology residents from other universities. Residents will be exposed to the full breadth of pediatric and perinatal pathology over their 8 week period, and this usually includes 3 weeks of autopsy service, 3 weeks of surgical pathology service, and 2 weeks of placental service. There is no call requirement during this rotation. Electives can be arranged through the UBC pathology office.


Medical Students – Site Supervisor: Jonathan Bush

We offer 1 or 2-week rotations for medical students in third and fourth year who are interested in learning more about pediatric, neonatal, and maternal health, including but not limited to those interested in pathology as a career. The student will be exposed to all of the clinical services our division has to offer. Electives can be arranged through the UBC pathology office.


Pediatric and Fetal Cardiology:

Pathologists provide monthly teaching sessions for trainees in pediatric cardiology using museum specimens from the David Hardwick Pathology Learning Center. These include hearts with normal anatomy, simple congenital defects, complex congenital defects, and post-operative samples. Current clinical cases are also reviewed to provide real-time clinicopathologic correlation.


Radiology-Pathology and Radiology-Surgery-Pathology Conferences:

The pathologists supervise trainees rotating in the division during their participation in these two clinicopathologic conferences, along with learners and trainees from the other respective disciplines. Each of these sessions is centered on a common clinical, pathologic, or developmental theme.


Research:

Our division supports a number of local, national, and international research programs. Pathologists hold investigator positions at the Women’s Health Research Institute and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where they either lead or collaborate in a number of basic, translational, or clinical studies. The division also provides support for the BC Children’s Hospital Biobank.


Staff

  • Jonathan Bush MD FRCPC

    Surgical Pathology, Placental Pathology, Autopsy Pathology, Embryofetopathology, Ocular Pathology

  • Anastasia Drobysheva MD MSc DABP

    Surgical Pathology, Placental Pathology, Autopsy Pathology, Embryofetopathology, Forensic Pathology

  • Christopher Dunham MD FRCPC

    Neuropathology

  • Glenda Hendson MBBS FRCPC

    Neuropathology, Placental Pathology, Autopsy Pathology

  • Anna Lee MDCM PhD FRCPC DABP

    Fellowship Director, Surgical Pathology, Placental Pathology, Autopsy Pathology, Embryofetopathology

  • Jessica Saunders MD MSc FRCPC

    Surgical Pathology, Placental Pathology, Autopsy Pathology, Embryofetopathology, Ocular Pathology

  • Christof Senger MD FRCPC

    Surgical Pathology, Placental Pathology

  • Jefferson Terry MD PhD FRCPC

    Division Head, Surgical Pathology, Placental Pathology, Autopsy Pathology, Embryofetopathology

  • Administrative Staff:

    Tony Borodovsky

    Pathologist’s Assistants:

    Vivian Lac
    Kent Neuert
    Narciso Reyes