About WPC

Established in 1977, Winfield Pathology Consultants and Winfield Laboratory Consultants encompass a group of highly trained, board-certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologists serving Northwestern Medicine. Our pathologists serve Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital as well as Northwestern Medicine HealthLab, which provides laboratory services in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Our mission is to provide high-quality pathology services to our communities as well as support the development and advancement of pathology and laboratory medicine.

Our Doctors

Our seasoned and skilled team of pathologists will treat every case that enters the pathology lab with care. Their combined practice proven record demonstrates the professional attention that will be paid to each diagnosis.

Dr. Tiffany Chang, MD
Dr. Tiffany Chang, MD

President

Dr. Ajay Patel, MD
Dr. Ajay Patel, MD

Vice President and Medical Director

Dr. Philip Mehaffey, MD
Dr. Philip Mehaffey, MD
Dr. Silver Daniel, MD
Dr. Silver Daniel, MD
Dr. Stephanie Sitterding, MD
Dr. Stephanie Sitterding, MD
Dr. Adriana Acurio, MD
Dr. Adriana Acurio, MD
Dr. Matthew Keeney, MD
Dr. Matthew Keeney, MD
Dr. Daniel Pelletier, MD
Dr. Daniel Pelletier, MD
Dr. Bryce Higa, MD
Dr. Bryce Higa, MD
Dr. Joseph Laakman, MD
Dr. Joseph Laakman, MD
Dr. Neha Dhungana, MD
Dr. Neha Dhungana, MD

Pathologist Role

An important part of your care

Patient Care

Pathologists are physicians who specialize in the study of disease including both body tissues (Anatomic Pathology) and body fluids (Clinical Pathology). They are directly responsible for the oversight and interpretation of all laboratory testing and serve as an integral part of the healthcare team by providing information critical to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

Pathologist reviewing samples
Behind-the-scenes pathology lab

Doing Our Part

Even though you may never see them, pathologists are directly involved in your care while working behind the scenes with your doctor and providing additional expertise. They examine tissues and body fluids, order and interpret laboratory tests, and provide diagnoses that help guide your treatment. Pathologists also work closely with other physicians and healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

Our Services

Quality service at every level

Anatomic Pathology

Anatomic Pathology

Anatomic pathologists are physicians who focus on the diagnosis of disease. Subspecialties include cytopathology, dermatopathology, breast pathology, gynecologic pathology, gastrointestinal and liver pathology, pulmonary pathology, neuropathology, autopsy pathology, and more.

  • Macroscopic and microscopic examination of organs and tissues
  • Use of immunohistochemical stains, molecular studies, and ancillary tests to guide diagnosis and treatment
  • Intraoperative consultations (frozen sections)

Clinical Pathology

Clinical Pathology

Clinical pathologists oversee all laboratory testing and often consult 24/7. Subspecialties include hematopathology, transfusion services, microbiology, immunology, and chemistry.

  • Selection, evaluation, and implementation of testing methodology
  • Designing protocols and establishing parameters for testing
  • Oversight of all laboratory testing for accuracy and timeliness
  • Microscopic examination of blood and body fluids
  • Supervision of laboratory technicians
  • Consultation with medical staff on operational issues and test availability
  • Communication of unexpected or critical results to physicians
  • Compliance with state, federal, Medicare, Joint Commission, and CAP standards
  • Quality assurance and implementation of improvement measures

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

A pathologist is a physician (either M.D. or D.O.) who graduated from medical school and completed a pathology residency. Most pathologists have spent five to six years in training with four years of residency followed by an additional one or two years of fellowship training within one or more subspecialties.

Pathologists use their eyes to grossly and microscopically examine tissues (including skin and solid organ biopsies and surgical resections, peripheral blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and fluid from the thorax, abdomen, or joint spaces). They also interpret the high complexity testing performed by medical laboratories including diagnostic molecular tests and protein electrophoresis, amongst other tests. Another essential role of the pathologist is that of the medical director. In order to maintain accreditation with regulatory agencies in the United States, all medical laboratories must have a qualified medical director. In short, the medical director is someone who is responsible for the lab standards and quality of service. A more detailed explanation of the role of the medical director is discussed here: Role of medical director. Pathologists receive extensive training in laboratory medicine and fulfill this required role for most medical laboratories in the United States. As such, pathologists are involved with all laboratory testing from the measurement of a complete blood count from a peripheral blood draw to the examination of a hemicolectomy specimen removed by a surgeon.

Pathologists are physicians, like the doctor you visit in an office, who provide Anatomic and Clinical Pathology professional services. Pathologists bill separately for their professional services. The hospital or laboratory will bill separately for their technical services. This technical component charge is for the cost of the instruments, materials and hospital technical employees and may already have been paid by the government payers, managed care organizations or insurance company. In the case of laboratory testing on blood specimens, you will receive one bill from the hospital for instrument analysis of the specimen (the technical component) and one bill from the pathologists for the medical direction of the laboratory and its technical staff (the professional component). The pathologist's charges do not duplicate any charges in the hospital's bill. Any hospital payment received from your insurer other than Medicare Part A does not contain any amount for the pathologist's professional services.

If you didn't receive a bill, the pathologist's professional services were likely covered by government payors, insurance companies, managed care plans, or pre-arranged agreements with the hospital.

Contact Us

Please call the appropriate number below for billing or specimen inquiries.

Pathology Consultants Billing

630-874-2729

Laboratory Consultants Billing

630-874-2730

Surgical Pathology Specimens

630-933-2636

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