A collaboration tool for pathologists to boost diagnostic accuracy and speed.
ROLE
Product Designer
COLLABORATORS
Design Manager
Design Researcher
Product Manager
5x Software Engineer's
TIMELINE
12 weeks (Summer 2022)
OVERVIEW
In the summer of 2022, I interned at PathAI as a Product Designer on the Slide Viewer Squad, where I designed and launched a new collaboration tool for 1200+ pathologists, improving diagnostic accuracy and turnaround times.
IMPACT
The feature successfully shipped in Q3 2022 into the Patient Diagnostics platform and significant jump in the number of cases signed out by a pathologist per day which meant a quicker diagnosis time. Those without speciality training could deliver accurate diagnoses faster, improving patient outcomes.
In order to comply with my non-disclosure agreement and HIPAA, I have not included any proprietary information, precise research data, or PHI in this case study.
BACKGROUND
Ever had a biopsy done on a suspicious spot on your skin?
What does "biopsy" even mean?
It sounds intimidating, but it’s a straightforward process: they stick you with a big needle and send the tissue sample off to a lab, where a pathologist examines it under a microscope.
Digital pathology has completely revolutionized the medical industry. By scanning tissue samples into high-resolution digital images, what used to take weeks can now be done in a matter of days.
At PathAI, we take it a step further by adding a layer of AI-assisted tools, pathologists can diagnose faster and with greater accuracy, unlocking new levels of precision in medical care.
UNDERSTAND
Okay, so what happens behind the scenes?
If the case is straightforward and easy
Here’s how it works: A pathologist gets a tissue sample from a patient worried about a rash on their arm. They use AI to analyze it quickly and find out it’s nothing serious—just a rash from the weather. The pathologist prescribes a topical oitment, the patient feels better, and that’s it. Easy, right?
AI helps diagnose these simple cases even faster and smoother for everyone.
But, if the case is complex
Now, imagine a different case: A pathologist gets a tissue sample from a patient with a rash that doesn’t look quite right. They use AI to analyze it, and the AI suggests it could be something serious.
But the pathologist feels nervous and hesitant to make a diagnosis just yet. Cases like these can be complex and still rely heavily on the expertise of human input to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Seeking a second opinion to ensure accurate diagnosis
Unsure about the diagnosis, the pathologist consults a colleague who specializes in dermatology. After reviewing the sample, the specialist confirmed it’s skin cancer.
With the diagnosis confirmed, the pathologist sends the results back to the patient so they can start the right treatment. Cases like this show the importance of seeking human expertise and timely collaboration when making critical decisions—because a patient’s health depends on it.
PROBLEM
Pathologists lack an effective way to get second opinions on complex cases
What do pathologists currently rely on?
Right now, pathologists don’t have a quick and easy way to consult with each other. They often rely on slow, manual methods like sending screenshots over email, or sharing accession numbers which can significantly delay the process.
In serious cases like cancer, where time is critical, these delays can put patients’ lives at risk. This shows the need for a better, faster way for pathologists to work together and make sure patients get the answers they need as quickly as possible.
"How can I be empowered to get a second opinion on complex cases quickly and efficiently when I’m unsure about a diagnosis?"
DIGGING DEEPER
The nature of getting “second opinions”
The three levels of collaboration in pathology
When I asked pathologists about how they give and receive second opinions, it became clear that collaboration is a crucial part of their workflow—similar to how designers rely on feedback to refine their work. Through these conversations, I identified three main ways pathologists gather second opinions:
- Curbside Consult: A quick, informal check with a colleague for immediate feedback.
- Formal Consult: A structured review where detailed input is added to the patient’s report.
- Consensus Conference: A group discussion for rare, highly complex cases requiring collective expertise.
SCOPING AND PRIOTISATION
How much of it do we want to solve?
Laying the groundwork for a game-changing solution
After learning about these steps, I aligned with my PM to define the scope and priorities for this feature. We broke it down into phases:
- MVP 1 (Internship Focus): Build a comment/chat feature to facilitate Curbside Consults digitally, enabling pathologists to collaborate informally, even remotely.
- MVP 2 (Longer-Term Goal): Create a live collaboration tool supporting all collaboration levels—Curbside Consults, Formal Consults, and Consensus Conferences, offering a one-stop solution for their workflow.
Given the time constraints and the need to meet our quarterly goals, I prioritized focusing on the first step ~ curbside consultation. By breaking the problem into manageable phases, we could deliver immediate value while keeping the bigger vision in sight. This phased approach ensured we addressed real pain points now, while laying the groundwork for a more advanced collaboration tool in the future. To make sure I design the right solution the right way, I decided to speak with in-house pathologists to understand how curbside consultations fit into their workflow today.
GETTING INTO THE WEEDS
Key findings about curbside consultation
Quick, informal exchanges and expectations for speed
Finding: Pathologists value brief, informal conversations for second opinions, similar to traditional "curbside consults," and expect these consultations to be quick, ideally completed within an hour.
Takeaway: The digital solution must enable pathologists to consult with minimal clicks or steps and allow quick sharing of digital slides or specific regions of interest. Functionalities such as canned messaging templates and the ability to mark the urgency of consult requests should be incorporated to enhance speed.
Comments target specific regions of interest
Finding: The nature of analyzing a microscopic tissue sample is like playing "Where's Waldo". Pathologists often pinpoint a specific region of a scanned tissue slide, similar to how radiologists examine X-ray scans on a screen and pinpoint exact areas where a problem is located.
Takeaway: Enable region-based annotations, allowing users to link comments directly to specific areas for better precision and collaboration.
Legal responsibility towards the report and the need for an audit trail
Finding: The pathologist on record remains legally responsible for the final diagnosis, requiring a transparent audit trail for all consultations.
Takeaway: The system should provide a secure audit trail of all consultations, comments, and modifications to protect pathologists legally and ensure transparency. It should also allow for optional documentation of the consult in the final report, acknowledging that the advice is informal and the primary pathologist has the final decision.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
These findings informed our solution
Region Comments
Based on the insights, it was clear from the research that pathologists needed their comments to be tied to specific regions of a slide rather than the entire slide. The name Region Comments emerged from this, allowing users to anchor their feedback directly to key slide areas.
To enhance quick collaboration, I added functionalities for email integration and user tagging. However, since these relied on another team’s codebase, we faced integration delays. To meet MVP timelines, we implemented a manual link-sharing option, with plans to integrate it in next release.
CONCEPT REFINEMENT
Pivoting to a broader usecase
Initial direction
I proposed a threaded comments feature to support structured discussions while keeping the pathologists' workspace uncluttered. To achieve this, I initially placed the comments in the "Accession Discussion" panel, inspired by the quick consults pathologists often have via email or in person.
The pivot
During a review with my PM, she highlighted that focusing solely on quick consults limited the tool’s potential. She proposed exploring broader use cases, including personal workflows. To validate this, I gathered feedback from pathologists, who emphasized the importance of annotations for teaching, tumor boards, research, and quality assurance.
With these insights, we pivoted to design a robust annotation system within the slide panel. This approach aligned with user needs and product goals, allowing pathologists to link comments to specific slide regions. It improved both personal workflows and collaboration while ensuring comments were tied accurately to the correct slides, addressing a critical challenge in multi-slide accessions.
FINAL DESIGNS
Region Comments
IMPACT
Setting the new standard for digital pathology
Immediate Impact
After launching Region Comments in Q3 2022 with our beta users, we noticed a significant jump in the number of cases signed out by a pathologist per day which meant quicker diagnosis time. Those without speciality training could deliver accurate diagnoses faster, improving patient outcomes.
Long-term impact
In Q1 2024, PathAI achieved the Northstar vision and launched Live Collaboration; which turned out to be a ground-breaking success. This tool allowed PathAI to sign 3 major deals shortly after its release and it was credited by the new partners as a key value driver that pushed the platform across the line, vaulting our 2-years young platform well passed competitors’ decades-old viewer products.
RETROSPECTION
Transformative milestone for my UX career
In retrospect, my summer at PathAI was both challenging and fulfilling, preparing me for the "real world". My manager and mentor gave me the nudges I needed to continue moving forward while also giving me the autonomy to do my own research, iterations, prototyping, and design feature presentation. A huge thanks to the whole Slide Viewer & Design team, especially Sandy Zhu, Jamie Harisiades, Riley Hunter, and my manager, Beckett Rucker. I am so grateful for the support and guidance from these talented individuals, and will continue to apply my learnings from PathAI to future projects!
Learnings
- Be people proactive - Wherever you go, you'll find people eager to share knowledge, give feedback, and connect. Some of my most memorable moments at PathAI came from one-on-one interactions. Seek feedback, ask questions, and stay curious—it’s a great way to grow.
- Embrace ambiguity - The most challenging project I worked on pushed me to adapt to constant changes in a fast-paced environment. It taught me how to thrive amidst uncertainty, honing my ability to navigate shifting demands.
- Managing expectations - Set realistic expectations to avoid unnecessary stress and misalignment. I once overcommitted despite being stretched too thin, resulting in subpar work. It’s okay to push back when needed—clear communication and regular updates are key to staying aligned.
"Mayank was an intern that I had the pleasure of working with while he was at PathAI. He showed a tremendous eagerness to learn as he learned all the different hats one needs to wear when designing a product. He was able to lead user research sessions, pushed designs iteratively, and ended up delivering production ready files to engineering. The amount of growth he showed was impressive and he'll be a great designer for whichever team is lucky to have him next."
Sandy Zhu
Associate Director of Product Design at PathAI
Check out my other projects
If you like what you see, let's work together
Email → kingermayank@gmail.com
