Medical College of Wisconsin Pediatric Pathology
The Division of Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Wisconsin, part of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), provides comprehensive diagnostic expertise and academic leadership in pediatric and perinatal pathology.
Division Overview
The Division of Pediatric Pathology plays a vital role in supporting patient care across the hospital’s extensive subspecialty services and contributes to education and research within MCW’s academic health system.
Faculty in Pediatric Pathology are actively involved in teaching medical students, residents, and fellows, helping to prepare the next generation of pathologists for excellence in clinical practice and discovery.
As an integral component of Wisconsin’s only freestanding pediatric hospital, the division collaborates closely with clinicians, surgeons, and researchers to provide accurate, timely diagnoses and contribute to multidisciplinary care for children with complex medical needs.
The program’s culture emphasizes scholarship, teamwork, and innovation, advancing the field of pediatric pathology locally and nationally.
Division Focus Areas
Education
The Division of Pediatric Pathology plays a vital role in training the next generation of physicians and scientists through its active involvement in medical education at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Faculty provide hands-on teaching and mentorship across all levels of training, from medical students to residents and fellows, fostering deep understanding of pediatric disease processes and diagnostic principles.
Educational Opportunities
- Pathology Residency Rotation: Residents in the MCW Pathology Residency Program complete a Pediatric Pathology rotation at Children’s Wisconsin, gaining experience in pediatric surgical, autopsy, and placental pathology.
- Pediatric Pathology Fellowship: The ACGME-accredited, one-year fellowship offers comprehensive training in perinatal and pediatric pathology, pediatric hematopathology, clinical pathology, neuromuscular pathology, and molecular diagnostics. Seven specialty board-certified pathologists and three clinical PhD scientists provide mentorship and instruction, preparing fellows for successful careers in academic or clinical practice.
Research
Research within the Division of Pediatric Pathology is focused on advancing the understanding of pediatric disease processes and improving diagnostic precision through translational and collaborative science. Faculty direct the histology, imaging, and biobank cores of the Children’s Research Institute, supporting a wide range of institutional and investigator-led projects.
Research areas include pediatric oncology, perinatal pathology, and molecular characterization of rare pediatric conditions. Divisional investigators actively contribute to multicenter studies and national consortia, including the Children’s Oncology Group and the Society for Pediatric Pathology. Faculty maintain protected research time and are supported through MCW’s robust infrastructure for grant development, mentoring, and laboratory resources.
The division’s strong integration within MCW’s academic environment enables collaboration across basic science and clinical departments, fostering discoveries that translate directly into improved pediatric care.
Patient Care
The Division of Pediatric Pathology provides expert diagnostic services that support nearly every pediatric specialty at Children’s Wisconsin. Faculty deliver consultation and interpretation in anatomic pathology, hematopathology, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics, clinical chemistry, and microbiology. The team’s subspecialty expertise spans neuropathology, hematopathology, cytopathology, vascular anomalies, pediatric solid tumor pathology, and perinatal and placental pathology.
Each year, the division handles over 7,000 surgical and cytopathology specimens, 250 bone marrow evaluations, 1,200 placentas, and approximately 60 autopsies, ensuring high-quality, comprehensive diagnostic insight for the region’s most complex pediatric cases. The CW Laboratory system performs close to one million tests annually across its CAP-accredited main and satellite laboratories, reflecting a commitment to excellence, precision, and collaboration.
Pediatric Pathology faculty also provide direct consultation to multidisciplinary care teams, contributing essential expertise in disease characterization, diagnosis, and management.
Division Leadership
Jason A. Jarzembowski, MD, PhD
Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Specialty Group; Vice Chair (Pediatric Pathology) and Professor, Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin; Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs–Pediatric Practice, Medical College of Wisconsin; Trustee, American Board of Pathology
Division Faculty
Blake Buchan, PhD, DABMM
Professor
Amanda Hopp, MD
Assistant Professor
Michael W. Lawlor, MD, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Stanley F. Lo, PhD
Professor
Paula E. North, MD, PhD
Professor
Lauren Parsons, MD
Associate Professor
Mariko Suchi, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
About Our Institutions
Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)
The Medical College of Wisconsin brings together the most inquisitive minds in science, medicine, education and community engagement to solve the toughest challenges in health and society today. Academic medicine is at the core, where scientists, physicians and students work hand-in-hand with the community to ask the questions no one else is and fuel the continuous cycle of knowledge that’s shaping the future of medicine.
Children’s Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. We offer a wide range of care and support for children of all ages. Our services include medical care, dental care, child and family counseling, foster care, adoption, social services, child advocacy and injury prevention.