Hematopathology
Hematopathology focuses on disorders of the blood and lymphatic systems, covering a spectrum of diseases to include benign and inflammatory conditions, congenital disorders, coagulopathies, and hematopoietic neoplasms such as leukemias and lymphomas.
Our Director of Hematopathology is Dr. Matt DeNicola. Dr. DeNicola attended medical school at Creighton University, where he was awarded with the school’s top honor from the Department of Pathology. He completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at UCLA, serving as Chief Resident. Dr. DeNicola continued at UCLA to complete his fellowship training in hematopathology, and is triple-board-certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and hematopathology. He has expertise in all aspects of hematopathology, with particular interest in high-grade lymphomas, plasma cell myeloma, and myeloid neoplasms. He also has experience as a medical director for clinical laboratories in the area, and is always available to discuss any cases or issues in the laboratory.
Joining Dr. DeNicola is Dr. Elizabeth Moschiano. After graduating from SUNY Upstate Medical University, Dr. Moschiano completed anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she served as Chief Resident. She completed her Hematopathology Fellowship through LAC + USC Medical Centers, as well as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Before joining MPC, Dr. Moschiano has been practicing as a general surgical pathologist and hematopathologist, at Community Memorial Hospital (CMH). During her time there, she served as co-chair of the Patient Blood Management Committee, working to improve patient safety and outcomes during massive transfusion protocols.
Our hematopathologists have trained at some of the largest and most respected transplant centers in California. They have worked together for several years, and are able to offer academic quality services combined with the speed and personal attention that our patients deserve here in the community. Drs. DeNicola and Moschiano are available for both primary and second opinion case review. All second opinion cases, new malignancies, and challenging cases are reviewed in consensus to ensure the highest diagnostic quality for patients and physicians. We believe that consistency is key, and the long-standing familiarity that Dr. DeNicola and Dr. Moschiano have built with each other ensures that diagnostic messaging is consistent both with each other and with regional referral centers.
We strive to simplify the process of the diagnostic workup for our clients. This includes hands-on triage of cytogenetic and molecular test ordering, appropriate flow cytometry panel selection, and recommendations for ancillary testing. The goal is to ensure our patients are getting the appropriate workup – maximizing what can be done on a single sample while minimizing waste and repeat blood draws. We work closely with our physician colleagues to make sure each case gets the personal attention it deserves. Abnormal results from ancillary studies are always unified and explained in a single integrated report, which allows us to summarize the wide and complex array of genetic and laboratory studies in a single page document.
We are one of the few pathology groups who operate a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration clinic, performing both inpatient and outpatient cases in an operating room suite with anesthesia and nursing support. This can be an excellent service for patients with significant pain/anxiety or for whom office biopsies may not be advisable. We perform this service in the hospital at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, or and outpatient basis at our clinic on Bath Street in Santa Barbara.
We also host a weekly hematology-pathology slide session of interesting cases with the hematology-oncologists in the community. This serves as teaching rounds and also provides an opportunity for clinicians to discuss best practices in case management. CME is available for anyone who wishes to attend!
Our specific services include:
- Tissue processing and slide preparation
- Extensive library of immunohistochemical stains
- Case review is always performed by board-certified Hematopathologists with 24-48 hour turnaround for most cases and easy phone and email access for case discussion
- Peripheral smear reviews of routine blood samples
- Flow cytometric immunophenotyping
- Appropriately triaged cytogenetics, FISH and molecular analysis, including next generation sequencing, with interpretation in a final integrated report
