Every year, The Pathologist Power List celebrates the people whose ideas, expertise and leadership are helping to shape the future of pathology and laboratory medicine. John Oyelakin-Ogunbileje, PhD, assistant professor of clinical pathology and laboratory medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, received this prestigious honor and award.
For 2026, The Pathologist asked their community a simple but important question: What are you doing to tackle the big issues facing the lab?
The answers revealed a profession alive with ideas and determined to make a difference. From future-proofing laboratories and closing process gaps to embracing innovation, managing change and responding to a diminishing workforce, this year’s essays explored some of the most pressing challenges facing pathology — and the work already underway to address them.
Oyelakin-Ogunbileje’s goal is to improve medical students’ and pathology residents’ understanding of clinical chemistry so that they no longer see it as a “black box.” His approach combines multidisciplinary learning and mentorship through research and quality improvement with practical teaching. When clinical chemistry is taught clearly and accessibly, learners become more engaged, confident and prepared for their careers, he explained.
The Pathologists judging panel reviewed the submissions and selected their top 50: the individuals they believe are doing the most to effect positive change across pathology and laboratory medicine. Judged blind by a panel of peers, the entries produced a list of 50 remarkable people spanning five continents. Across countries, specialties and career stages, their stories converge on a compelling idea: pathology’s future will be shaped not by technology alone but by the people who make it accessible, communicate its value and translate innovation into practice.
