BOSTON and NASHVILLE – Vistapath, a leader in pathology automation and AI-driven laboratory solutions, announced that PathGroup will expand its deployment of the Sentinel AI-powered grossing platform to its two Dermatopathology Centers of Excellence: DermPathGroup in Birmingham, AL and Atlanta Dermatopathology (ADPA) in Atlanta, GA. The expansion follows PathGroup’s initial rollout of Sentinel units at its centralized laboratory in Nashville, TN, and extends AI-enabled grossing across 15 additional units in PathGroup’s Southeast network.
The decision to expand builds on results from the Nashville deployment, where Sentinel has standardized specimen handling across shifts and supported turnaround time goals. By bringing the platform to DermPathGroup and ADPA, PathGroup is extending a consistent grossing standard across multiple sites – a step that reinforces the company’s commitment to innovation, diagnostic precision, and operational excellence.
“Our partnership with Tim and the talented team at Vistapath will continue PathGroup’s trailblazing activities in the digital and technology space. The Sentinel device provides streamlined image and AI-driven grossing capability, as well as tangible quality advancement via the provision of gross image data for tracking, operational quality assurance, and pathologist image review. We believe this will be especially impactful for dermatopathology, but also in a myriad of other service lines. In a market quickly advancing towards digital solutions, and away from analog workflow, it makes perfect sense to interject such technology into the gross room of any pathology lab.”
– Derek Welch, M.D., President/CMO, PathGroup
Sentinel leverages advanced computer vision and machine learning to standardize specimen handling, enhance traceability, and deliver real-time quality assurance. The platform integrates seamlessly with laboratory information systems (LIS) and existing digital pathology workflows to capture, analyze, and document grossing data. Applying AI at the grossing bench helps pathologists and lab professionals reduce variability, optimize turnaround times, and ensure that every sample contributes to accurate downstream diagnoses – now across a broader footprint of PathGroup’s operations.
Multi-site deployment also allows PathGroup to apply a single grossing standard across laboratories, supporting consistency in report integrity regardless of where a specimen is processed. Implementation at DermPathGroup and ADPA is expected to begin in January 2027.
“Expanding Sentinel to Birmingham and Atlanta is a huge milestone for our teams. PathGroup’s laboratories continue to set a high bar, and seeing Sentinel and SentinelOS extend from Nashville into additional high-volume sites reflects the trust we have built together, the value we provide for patients and clinicians and our shared goal in modernizing pathology. We continue to admire PathGroup’s willingness to lead on technology and we look forward to supporting their excellent teams in Birmingham and Atlanta.”
– Tim Spong, CEO, Vistapath
The expansion reinforces PathGroup’s continued investment in next-generation technologies that elevate diagnostic quality and laboratory productivity. By scaling Sentinel beyond its centralized laboratory, PathGroup is paving the way for broader AI adoption in anatomic pathology and setting a new standard for how multi-site laboratory networks integrate automation to support clinicians and patients alike.
About Vistapath
Vistapath is transforming anatomic pathology through automation and AI. Its flagship product, Sentinel, is an AI-powered grossing solution that streamlines specimen processing and documentation while enhancing consistency and diagnostic quality. By combining computer vision with intelligent workflow design, Vistapath empowers laboratories to work faster, smarter, and more precisely, thus helping to advance the standard of care in pathology.
About PathGroup
Founded in 1965, PathGroup is a premier provider of anatomic, clinical, molecular, and digital pathology services in the United States. As a physician-led practice, PathGroup works seamlessly with customers to provide superior diagnostic services – a vital link in the cycle of patient relationships. PathGroup uses the latest in proprietary and industry standard technology, including an industry-leading deployment of digital pathology across its organization, to deliver fast, accurate results. The company provides clients with the highest quality of services available, consistently exceeding the expectations of physicians, employees, payers, and most importantly, patients. PathGroup is more than a laboratory – it is a trusted partner in health, driven by a mission to improve lives through diagnostic excellence and innovation. For more information, visit https://www.pathgroup.com/.
