PNPL Micro Highlights April/May 2026

The Panel of National Pathology Leaders (PNPL) — a national think tank dedicated to advancing pathology and laboratory medicine — is committed to empowering leaders and elevating practices across the field. Through its expert-led Networking Teams and Focus Groups, PNPL provides practical guidance to help pathology practices and laboratories navigate today’s most pressing operational, workforce, and technology challenges. The goal is to translate complex industry trends into actionable strategies that strengthen performance and long-term sustainability.   

• Winning the Talent War in Pathology: Practical Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining in a Candidate-Driven Market – During a March session of PNPL’s Human Resources Networking Team, Rich Cornell, President of Santé Consulting, presented an exclusive preview of his 2026 Executive War College session, highlighting the shift to a candidate-driven labor market in pathology. His presentation emphasized that success in today’s environment depends less on compensation alone and more on speed, communication, and candidate experience. Practical strategies include treating recruitment as a relationship-driven process, accelerating hiring timelines, and clearly communicating total compensation value. These insights provide a roadmap for pathology practices seeking to improve time-to-fill and secure top talent in an increasingly competitive workforce landscape.  
   
  Click here for an overview of his presentation and key takeaways.   

• A First Look at the 2026 KLAS Report on Digital Pathology: Lessons from Early Adopters – At a recent PNPL Digital Pathology & AI Focus Group meeting of 2026, Eder Lagemann of KLAS Research shared early insights from the 2026 Digital Pathology report, offering a real-world perspective on adoption trends, vendor performance, and the evolving business case for digital workflows. The discussion highlighted that while adoption remains in its early stages, organizations are increasingly building business cases around workforce strategy and operational efficiency. Key considerations include vendor selection trade-offs, integration with enterprise imaging systems, and the importance of workflow alignment — particularly for AI applications. These findings underscore that successful digital transformation requires not only technology investment, but also careful alignment of strategy, operations, and user experience.  
   
  Click here for an overview of this presentation and key takeaways.   

For more information on PNPL, including its Networking Teams, Focus Groups, and practical resources designed to support pathology practices and laboratories nationwide, visit http://www.pathleaders.org.