New Chief of Clinical Pathology Helps Steer Quest Transition

UH Clinical Update | April 2025

Imagine living at the zoo, surrounded by fascinating lions, tigers and bears from around the world – and so many other animals too numerous to name.

Neil Anderson, MD

Neil Anderson, MD, UH’s new Division Chief of Clinical Pathology, lived this dream while he was growing up. His father was a zoo director, and the family lived on the grounds of different zoos for a time. Fast-forward to 2025, and Dr. Anderson says this experience helped set the stage for the pathology career he has today.

“I thought for the longest time I wanted to be a veterinarian,” he says. “I was really interested in animals and biodiversity, but as I matured, I became very interested in infectious disease and microbiology because of the ways you can use those skills to help others and the very real impact we can have. It was probably a unique path to medicine.”

Dr. Anderson is in his first year at UH, having joined in July 2024 after 10 years at Washington University in St. Louis as Director of the Molecular Infectious Disease Laboratory. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his medical degree at Medical College of Wisconsin, where he also completed residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology. Dr. Anderson also completed fellowship training in clinical microbiology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Although work here has been quite busy right out the gate, Dr. Anderson says he made the right choice in coming to UH.

“What struck me the most about the department here is this very collaborative and positive work environment,” he says. “There’s a lot of promise and potential and different departments working together. A big part of my job now is also helping others thrive, and it's definitely a place where I feel I would want to recruit others.”

One of Dr. Anderson’s first tasks at UH was to help manage the UH/Quest outpatient laboratory transition. And on that count, he has excelled, says Christine Schmotzer, MD, System Pathologist-in-Chief, Executive Vice Chair, Pathology and holder of the Linda Sandhaus, MD, and Roland Philip, MD, Chair in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

“Dr. Anderson quickly dove in to do his part to make this a safe and successful transition,” she says. “Although new to the system, he quickly came up to speed on UH, the transaction, rules of engagement and UH team members.”

A key aspect of Dr. Anderson’s responsibility was working with the UH team of laboratory medical directors to ensure that Epic test orders had the right match in Quest's system. Importantly, he worked with multiple clinical service line providers and teams to assess their needs and identify the best solution for them based on clinical need, test performance, patient experience and workflows.

“He respectfully and professionally bridged discussions between the UH teams and Quest leads to navigate this planning,” Dr. Schmotzer says. “He quickly engendered trust and high integrity with our providers to ensure patients were taken care. Since we've gone live, he has continued to serve as this bridge as a key resource for the clinical services, improving the workflows daily, and pushing for improvement each day.”

In recognition of this important work, UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, recently named Dr. Anderson a “Dinner with the Doc” honoree.

“While it's certainly been challenging,” Dr. Anderson says “the Quest transition has provided an opportunity for our medical directors to shine. It has showed a lot of cooperation between both institutions.”

To nominate a physician for this honor, click here for the Dinner with the Doc Nomination Form. The next deadline is June 17.