Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

The Section of Anatomic Pathology offers a comprehensive diagnostic services including post-mortem examination, histopathology, biopsy evaluation, and diagnostic immunohistochemistry. Services are provided on a fee for service basis to both clinicians at the Cornell University for Animals and veterinarians in private practice. Faculty in the Section have all been awarded board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and all are skilled in diagnosis of diseases in a wide variety of species. Additionally, individual faculty members have experience and interest in a variety of organ systems and species, and are available and willing to consult on cases in their area of interest.

Samples for the Surgical Pathology Service should be fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and shipped in appropriate containers to prevent leakage. All specimens should be accompanied by a Surgical Pathology Specimen accession sheet and include contact information for the referring veterinarian, species of the patient as well as a complete and relevant medical history. Proper identification of surgical margins when appropriate is desirable. Click here for shipping address and current fees.

Necropsies on Saturday and Sunday are performed on an emergency only basis with prior approval of the Pathologist-in-Charge. A fully completed Necropsy Request Form must be shipped together with the body of the animal. Courier shipment to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center can be made with any courier company that offers overnight delivery. Please note that deliveries are only accepted Monday - Friday (8 AM - 5 PM) & Saturday (8 AM-noon). Large animal carcasses can be brought to the Necropsy Service during regular business hours (M-F 9am to 5 pm). Carcass deliveries after hours and on the week-ends must be arranged in advance with the Pathologist-in-Charge. Small animals can be mailed to the service. Click here for mailing address and current fees. When possible all remains should be refrigerated prior to shipping and should be shipped in appropriate leak proof containers. Animals should be shipped with appropriate ice packs in order to keep the remains cool. If circumstances prevent immediate shipping, carcasses should be frozen. Animals presented for post mortem must be accompanied by a complete history sheet along with the contact information for the referring veterinarian.

Results of post mortem or surgical pathology examination will only be provided to the referring veterinarian. Owners must contact a referring veterinarian for test results and must provide referring veterinarian contact information prior to submitting specimens or animals for evaluation.

Maps, Directions, Parking
Once at the College of Veterinary Medicine, please follow signs to Necropsy.

Faculty members in the section of Anatomic Pathology are available for collaborative research. Individuals wishing to develop collaborative research efforts are encouraged to contact individual faculty members when developing research projects.

Elizabeth Buckles - Infectious Disease, avian and wildlife pathology

Gerald Duhamel - Infectious Disease

Sean McDonough - Immunopathology

Alexander Nikitin - Cancer Pathology

Jeanine Peters-Kennedy - Veterinary Dermatopathology

Rachel Peters - Diagnostic Anatomic Pathology

Donald Schlafer - Reproductive Pathology