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The hardest part of going digital isn’t the technology.
Feats of Strength honors the bold leaders who challenged institutional resistance, took calculated risks, and proved the impossible was achievable.
This is their spotlight.
Feats of Strength
The future of medicine depends on visionaries—leaders who challenge the status quo, bridge silos, and turn emerging science into patient-impacting solutions. The leaders featured in Feats of Strength demonstrated extraordinary courage in making Pathology AI a reality.
They navigated institutional skepticism, aligned complex stakeholders, and delivered breakthrough innovations. These aren’t just success stories—they’re stories of bold leadership that changed everything.
Dr. Amanda Hemmerich
Global Director of Digital Pathology Innovation
IQVIA Laboratories
Dr. Hemmerich challenged the status quo at IQVIA’s global network—coordinating teams spanning different countries, time zones, and stages of digital maturity. Her boldness in creating end-to-end validation strategies made the impossible possible.
“Just go ahead and start. It’ll give you something to grow on.”
Dr. Derrick Forchetti
Pathologist
South Bend Medical Foundation
Derrick Forchetti is a pathologist who carries his patients' weight, so when he first saw a scanner, he knew digital pathology was the only path forward. For years he advocated for it through steady dialogue and unwavering conviction, until even the skeptic who said "never" came around.
"I think the defining moment for me was when I saw that first scanner and saw what it could do. It was like, okay, someday, this is the way we're going to work.”
Never Backing Down: One Pathologist's Unwavering Push for Digital
Dr. Derrick Forchetti
Pathologist
South Bend Medical Foundation
Derek Forchetti is a pathologist who carries his patients' weight, so when he first saw a scanner, he knew digital pathology was the only path forward. For years he advocated for it through steady dialogue and unwavering conviction, until even the skeptic who said "never" came around.
"I think the defining moment for me was when I saw that first scanner and saw what it could do. It was like, okay, someday, this is the way we're gonna work.”
Renee Slaw
Digital Pathology Manager
Renee Slaw didn’t set out to build a career in digital pathology, but she has been instrumental in making it work across four major institutions. More than any single milestone, her legacy lies in the gaps she has closed, aligning diverse teams to turn progress into lasting adoption.
"When everything comes together, the procedures, the instruments, the techs that are doing the scanning and all the pathologists, it feels really good because a short time before, you weren’t doing any of this."
Dr. Sajjad Malik
Medical Director of Digital Pathology
HNL Lab Medicine
When HNL Lab Medicine decided to go fully digital, Dr. Malik led with unusual clarity and conviction. No partial rollouts. No exceptions. Just bold leadership that required multiple people, multiple disciplines to come together.
“I fully believed that this was the right thing to do. And I didn’t waver on that. At the end of the day, we’re doing it for the right reasons, patient care and a better workflow.”
The Courage to Go All-In:
Fully Digital in One Year
Dr. Sajjad Malik
Medical Director of Digital Pathology
HNL Lab Medicine
When HNL Lab Medicine decided to go fully digital, Dr. Malik led with unusual clarity and conviction. No partial rollouts. No exceptions. Just bold leadership that required multiple people, multiple disciplines to come together.
“I fully believed that this was the right thing to do. And I didn’t waver on that. At the end of the day, we’re doing it for the right reasons, patient care and a better workflow.”
Dr. Derek Welch
President and Chief Medical Officer
PathGroup
Dr. Derek Welch didn't have a roadmap when PathGroup set out to go digital. He built one. The result: a 200+ pathologist practice that attracts top-tier talent, delivers services only possible with a digital platform, and unlocks new revenue opportunities.
"I'm not sure many institutions that have gone digital have done it this way. We trained folks, our pathologists, and then we went fully digital with the first cohort on a Monday morning and removed the microscope completely."
