Medical Technician Bri Babb at work in the Clinical Pathology section.
Clinical Pathology is one of the sections within the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University. We sat down with the section team to learn more about what they do and who they are.
What's your primary focus?
Clinical Pathology specializes in disease diagnosis and health monitoring using samples such as blood, urine, spinal fluid, joint fluid, and small samples taken from tumors, lymph nodes, and other organs. Our patients include domestic animals such as dogs, cats, horses and livestock as well as many wildlife species, from hawks to sea turtles.
What is your impact?
We quickly process samples allowing our clinical pathologists to make diagnoses fast, often within an hour. One recent patient was a three-month old puppy who suddenly developed severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea and a high fever. In a puppy this age, these can be signs of parvovirus infection, a serious and often fatal condition. The puppy's veterinarian very astutely noted that the puppy's lymph nodes were enlarged and sent us a small needle sample for STAT evaluation. Within an hour, we had diagnosed the puppy with "salmon poisoning disease", a bacterial infection from eating raw fish. After starting antibiotics and a day of supportive care, the puppy was back to normal.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Dr. Latifat Adekunle, clinical pathology resident
The head of the section Dr. Jennifer Johns, demonstrates a leadership style that prioritizes the well-being of all staff members, welcomes new ideas to enhance the services we offer as a department and encourages teamwork among staff.
Dr. Kyle Hager, clinical pathology resident
Although I really enjoy the variety of cases we see from the teaching hospital and our local community clinics, I do find teaching and discussing cases with veterinary students very rewarding.
Michele Flanders, clinical pathology supervisor
Discussing cases with pathologist and working with and teaching students.
Ethan Morris, medical technician
Getting to see uncommon conditions and learning from pathologists how they manifest in laboratory results.
Are there new tests being offered by your section?
Pathologist Blood Smear Review Test Code #8384. For further information, see our test catalog.
What's the most adventurous thing you've done?
Dr. Latifat Adekunle, clinical pathology resident
Leaving my home country to join this team of friendly and kind members in the Clinical Pathology section to pursue my aspiration of becoming a member of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists.
Dr. Kyle Hager
Scuba diving with sea lions in the Puget Sound
Ethan Morris
Rafted down the Rio Claro in Colombia and wandered through the surrounding cave
Michele Flanders
Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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