Clinical Pathology Laboratories history

Upon the recommendation of Boone Powell, executive director, a special committee of the Baylor University Hospital board was appointed in mid 1958 to consider the future relationship between the hospital and the Wadley Blood Institute.

When Doctor George Race came to Baylor in September 1959, <100 people were employed in the laboratories, and most tests had to be performed by hand.

By January 1, 1960, the staff included 6 pathologists: Drs.

Doctor Kingsley joined that partnership when he arrived in 1961; he had been recruited through an advertisement in a national journal.

Doctor Norman Helgeson, who had a special interest in microbiology, joined the BUMC medical staff in 1966 from the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Doctor George Race (left) with Doctor Dighton Rowan, director of virology, and Doctor Floyd Norman, chief of pediatrics, in 1968.

Doctor Doris Vendrell joined the staff in 1970 and became director of the autopsy service.

Clinical Labs of Hawaii (CLH) and Pan Pacific Pathologists were founded in 1971, by Doctor Moon S. Park.

With the addition in 1972 of Doctor Alain Marengo-Rowe from Oxford, a special hematology laboratory, blood bank, and coagulation unit were established.

The Plaza Reference Laboratory was established at BUMC in 1974 as a taxable enterprise owned by BHCS. William S. Carter, executive vice president of BHCS, served as president of the corporation.

Doctor Charles Rietz joined the surgical pathology staff in 1975.

Medicare-Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Amendments were adopted in 1977.

A nephrology laboratory was introduced in 1978 when Doctor Martin White was appointed director of nephrology for the institution.

Doctor James J. Aguanno, a PhD from Memphis State University, joined the clinical chemistry staff in 1980.

The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, adopted in 1982, brought laboratories along with other units of hospitals under reimbursement limits.

In 1985, the final revision of Laboratory Medicine was published and has long continued in use across the nation.

In 1986, a major change was made in the direction and administration of the BUMC laboratories.

Since its establishment in 1987, Sonic Healthcare has grown to become the world’s third largest pathology/laboratory medicine company with operations in eight countries.

In 1988, upon the retirement of Doctor William B. Kingsley, Doctor Savino became director of surgical pathology.

In 1989, Doctor William G. Herlihy assumed the directorship of the autopsy service after the retirement of Doctor Vendrell.

Increased surgical volume was provided for in July 1990 by building a satellite laboratory in the new Roberts Hospital building to supply “stat” testing in hemostasis, hematology, and clinical chemistry.

In 1997, however, much of the testing was changed to polymerase chain reactions to improve and expand the scope of tissue typing and organ matching, The newer technology allowed for better, broader-based tissue typing, which improved organ and patient survival.

In 2000, BUMC had 18 approved pathology resident trainee positions.

In 2008 Clinical Labs of Hawaii became a member of Sonic Healthcare Ltd.

Starting in 2010, the expansion added 30,000 square feet of space originally intended for laboratory and administrative functions.

In 2016, SRL adopts the latest next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms.