“We are excited to expand the markets we serve to now include the Obstetrics and Gynecology community,” stated William McDowell, CEO of Poplar Healthcare. “With the advent of new molecular technologies that aid in the detection of sexually transmitted and pre-malignant disease, it made sense for Poplar Healthcare to leverage our existing laboratory infrastructure and managed care providership, and begin providing the latest diagnostic testing to OB/GYN physicians and their patients.”

The Company also announced that Bradly Clark, M.D., will serve as Medical Director for Women’s Health Laboratories. Dr. Clark received his medical degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and finished a residency in anatomic pathology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. He then completed fellowships in both molecular diagnostics and cytopathology at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. “We are thrilled to have someone with Dr. Clark’s experience and credentials lead this new division,” commented McDowell.

“I am pleased to be part of such an exciting venture,” stated Dr. Clark. “With the combination of state-of-the art pap testing, advanced imaging systems, a broad ‘out-of-the-vial’ molecular test menu, and innovative minimally invasive histology collection options, I am confident that Women’s Health Laboratories will quickly become a leader in the rapidly advancing OB/GYN market.”

Other key members of the Women’s Health Laboratories’ professional staff include Dr. Mark Dolz, a board-certified cytopathologist with 10 years experience, and Dr. Douglas Kingma, a board-certified hematopathologist and molecular genetic pathologist with over 10 years experience.

To find out more about Women’s Health Laboratories, visit www.womenshealthlab.com.

About Poplar Healthcare

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Memphis, Poplar Healthcare is a leading laboratory services company. Through its GI Pathology, D-PATH Dermatopathology, OncoMetrix and Women’s Health Laboratories brands, Poplar Healthcare provides specialized laboratory testing services to a nationwide client base of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, oncologists, gynecologists and their patients. For more information on Poplar Healthcare, call 901.526.1912 or visit www.poplarhealthcare.com.

(Memphis, TN and Suffern, NY) – February 1, 2012 – GI Pathology, a dominant player in the gastrointestinal pathology market, and CDx Diagnostics, the leader in deploying computer-aided analysis to detect and prevent cancers of the esophagus, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx, announced today an exclusive agreement for GI Pathology, a division of Poplar Healthcare, to market EndoCDx® EGD starting February 1, 2012.

In clinical trials, CDx Diagnostics’ EndoCDx EGD, a patented computer-aided brush biopsy examination, significantly increased the detection rate of Barrett’s esophagus in GERD patients as well as precancerous changes in esophageal tissue (dysplasia) by up to 40%^1,2.

 “We are excited about our new partnership with CDx Diagnostics which underscores our commitment to providing our customers with quality products and services that improve patient care,” said William E. McDowell, CEO of Poplar Healthcare. “EndoCDx EGD represents an important breakthrough in detecting Barrett’s esophagus and dysplasia. As the largest and fastest-growing physician-owned GI specialty laboratory in the country, we look forward to providing the gastroenterology community with access to this new cutting-edge advance.”

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests screening and biopsy in people diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus may lead to early detection and improved survival. Gastroenterologists use the EndoCDx brush biopsy in conjunction with standard biopsy techniques to collect, through this minimally invasive procedure, a full thickness tissue specimen over a larger surface area.  This unique tissue specimen is analyzed by both a state-of-the-art quantitative image analysis system as well as by a certified pathologist for early signs of cancer. 

Many cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) are preceded by chronic heartburn. About 30 million Americans report having heartburn at least twice a week. This condition, also known as Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, is not only uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous.

 “The failure to detect Barrett’s esophagus with or without high grade dysplasia due to sampling error is a major concern for endoscopists,” said Paul A. Akerman, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Brown University. “CDx technology is a major leap forward in detection and gives the endoscopist greater confidence in the pathologic diagnosis. The GI community is excited about this advancement in detection of pre and early cancers of the esophagus.”

Mark Rutenberg, Chairman and CEO of CDx Diagnostics, stated, “We are delighted to enter into this agreement with GI Pathology due to their leading position in the GI market as well as their record of providing the highest level of quality care to their physician customers and theirpatients. We are confident that they will prove to be an excellent partner to help us launch the EndoCDx EGD test in the US market.”

About EndoCDx^® EGD

The EndoCDx EGD test is an adjunct to standard endoscopic evaluation with multiple random forceps biopsies. The EndoCDx technology employs a patented instrument to obtain a wide area sample of the entire thickness of the esophageal mucosa in a targeted area of the esophagus. This unique tissue sample is then analyzed at the laboratory with the aid of quantitative image analysis to help identify a precancerous abnormality in time for effective treatment. The addition of EndoCDx to standard forceps biopsy has been shown to increasethe detection of both Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal dysplasia, the treatable precursors of esophageal adenocarcinoma, by up to 40%.

 About Barrett’s Esophagus

About 10% of patients with GERD, or 3 million Americans, will develop small areas of altered cells in their esophagus. This condition, known as Barrett’s esophagus, is not harmful in itself. However, each year about 0.5% of people with Barrett’s will develop esophageal cancer from the Barrett’s area of their esophagus. The number of Americans diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma has increased 600% over the last 25 years. It is now the fastest growing form of cancer in the U.S., and its incidence is rising faster than breast cancer, prostate cancer, or melanoma. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is also one of the most lethal of cancers, with a five year survival rate of less than 20%.

 About GI Pathology

GI Pathology is a division of Poplar Healthcare, a leading laboratory services company founded in 1995 and headquartered in Memphis. Through its GI Pathology, D-PATH Dermatopathology and OncoMetrix Oncology brands, Poplar Healthcare provides specialized laboratory testing services to a nationwide client base of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, oncologists and their patients. For more information on Poplar Healthcare, call 901.526.1912 or visit www.poplarhealthcare.com.

 About CDx Diagnostics

CDx Diagnostics (www.cdxdiagnostics.com) is the world’s leader in the prevention of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and esophagus through early detection of their pre-cancerous precursors. Clinicians use CDx patented brush biopsy instruments to collect, through minimally invasive procedures, a wide area, disaggregated tissue specimen of the entire thickness of the suspect epithelium. This unique tissue specimen is then subjected to specialized, computer-assisted laboratory analysis. 

¹ Johanson, J. F., J. Frakes, D. Eisen, (2010). Computer-assisted analysis of abrasive transepithelial brush biopsies increases the effectiveness of esophageal screening: a multicenter prospective clinical trial by the endocdx collaborative group. Dig Dis Sci, e-pub

² Anandasabapathy, Sharmila, Stephen Sontag, David Y. Graham, Stephen Frist, Joan Bratton, Noam Harpaz, Jerome D. Waye. (2010). Computer-assisted brush-biopsy analysis for the detection of dysplasia in a high-risk barrett’s esophagus surveillance population. Dig Dis Sci, e-pub

(Memphis, TN) – Poplar Healthcare, a leading laboratory services company, recently announced the addition of Dr. Trey Martin to its team.  Dr. Martin will serve as Director of Dermatopathology for Poplar Healthcare’s dermatopathology division known as D-PATH.  Prior to his new role at D-PATH, Dr. Martin served as Laboratory Director for the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology in New York.

Dr. Martin received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and continued there for residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology where he was Chief Fellow. He then completed a surgical pathology fellowship at Southwestern. After practicing general surgical pathology, he completed a fellowship in dermatopathology at the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology in New York.  Upon completion of the fellowship, he joined the Ackerman Academy as a dermatopathologist and eventually became Laboratory Director.  Dr. Martin has been published in various prominent journals and delivered numerous lectures at the American Academy of Dermatology meetings. He is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists and is also a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatopathology, and numerous state and local societies.

“We are both honored and excited to have someone of Dr. Martin’s caliber join our team,” remarks William McDowell, CEO of Poplar Healthcare, “Besides his own skill and accomplishments in the field, he has a unique perspective from his many years with renowned dermatopathologists such as Dr. Bernard Ackerman and Dr. Geoffrey Gottlieb.  His experience and reputation will undoubtedly help D-PATH continue to provide excellent patient care and maintain its strong growth.”

Likewise, Martin is optimistic about his future at D-PATH.  “The timing was optimal for me to join a growth-oriented organization,” remarks Martin.  “I felt as though D-PATH was an excellent choice for me to put my knowledge and medical expertise into practice with other like-minded professionals.”

About Poplar Healthcare:

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Memphis, Poplar Healthcare is a leading laboratory services company.  Through its GI Pathology, D-PATH Dermatopathology and OncoMetrix divisions, Poplar Healthcare provides specialized laboratory testing services to a nationwide client base of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, oncologists and their patients.  For more information on Poplar Healthcare, call 901.526.1912 or visit www.poplarhealthcare.com.

“As we continue to expand,” remarks William McDowell, CEO of Poplar Healthcare, “we felt it was imperative to have an overarching, singular brand to which our individual companies could belong, while still maintaining their unique identities.  Our new branding system is one that will allow us to continue to grow by adding more sub-brands as appropriate in the future.”

GI Pathology, D-PATH and OncoMetrix are physician-owned laboratories, which give these entities great insight into the needs of patients, clinicians and healthcare organizations.  Their particular focus in the areas of gastrointestinal and liver pathology, dermatopathology, and hematopathology, gives them a unique advantage over multipurpose laboratories that do not provide specialized services.

As part of its rebranding, Poplar Healthcare and its sub-brands have launched new web sites.  “We are a national laboratory company,” says McDowell, “and the sophistication of our growing organization is now reflected in our online presence.”  The new web sites are www.poplarhealthcare.com, www.gipath.com, www.d-path.com and www.oncometrix.com.

About Poplar Healthcare

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Memphis, Poplar Healthcare is a leading laboratory services company.  Through its GI Pathology, D-PATH Dermatopathology and OncoMetrix brands, Poplar Healthcare provides specialized laboratory testing services to a nationwide client base of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, oncologists and their patients.  For more information on Poplar Healthcare, call 901.526.1912 or visit www.poplarhealthcare.com.

(Memphis, TN) – August 17, 2011 – Poplar Healthcare, a leading laboratory services company, has expanded its specialized test offering to the national hematology and oncology market through the launch of its latest division, OncoMetrix.

“With our focus on providing high quality, rapid turnaround and in-network laboratory services,” says William McDowell, CEO of Poplar Healthcare, “it was a natural progression to expand into serving patients being treated for complex diseases by oncologists. Our goal is to provide the same high quality services to these physicians and patients as we currently do to gastroenterologists, dermatologists and their patients.”

Poplar Healthcare assembled a strong team of experts to lead the business and medical aspects of OncoMetrix including Robert Walker, who will serve as the President of OncoMetrix. Mr. Walker has held leadership positions in the healthcare field with organizations such as Olympus, STERIS Corporation, Apria Healthcare, Esoterix and AEL. He was also a founding partner of OralDNA Labs, a dental laboratory specializing in periodontal disease and oral HPV.

Walker is enthusiastic about his new role and the opportunities created by the addition of OncoMetrix to Poplar Healthcare. He remarks, “We believe our comprehensive test offering, broad managed care coverage, expert staff, flexible reporting capabilities and fast turnaround time will lead to tremendous success in this marketplace.”

Other key team members include the OncoMetrix Director of Hematopathology, Dr. Douglas Kingma, who served as a faculty member at the NIH for 10 years; Dr. Mihaela Onciu, who was a faculty member and hematopathologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis for approximately 10 years; and Dr. Anita Kulharya, who joins OncoMetrix from the Medical College of Georgia, where she directed the cytogenetics laboratory for 16 years.

About Poplar Healthcare

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Memphis, Poplar Healthcare is a leading laboratory services company.  Through its GI Pathology, D-PATH Dermatopathology and OncoMetrix brands, Poplar Healthcare provides specialized laboratory testing services to a nationwide client base of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, oncologists and their patients.  For more information on Poplar Healthcare, call 901.526.1912 or visit www.poplarhealthcare.com.