A conversation with Dr. Kenji Ikemura, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Q: After earning your MD from Rush Medical College, you completed your residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Montefiore-Einstein, followed by a fellowship in molecular genetic pathology at Memorial Sloan Kettering and a clinical informatics fellowship at Mass General. What drew you to these fields, and what do you find engaging and challenging about this work?
Kenji Ikemura, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
A: Initially, I wanted to care for kids and thought pediatrics was for me, but I realized I wasn’t fully enjoying it. I’ve always been drawn to science—math, physics, and my undergraduate training was in engineering. I explored specialties like radiology and surgery, but then I discovered pathology.
I realized pathology integrates molecular genetics and cell biology, letting you see in action what you learned in undergrad and medical school—like the DNA and cellular level of things. I enjoyed that, along with the technology that supports it. I also liked that I could help patients in a different way.
During rotations in the pathology lab at my medical school, I really enjoyed it, and that’s when I chose pathology. I wanted training in both anatomic pathology (AP) and clinical pathology (CP), which gave me a broader perspective on how everything is integrated. That naturally led me to molecular pathology and informatics.
Q: Those are two very exciting fields. You’re also the department’s director of Clinical Informatics. Can you tell me about your work and goals?
A: Right now, my main focus is leading our Epic/Beaker LIS implementation. That means understanding how things work today, optimizing the system, and making sure we go live as smoothly as possible. A big part of that is helping with validation and keeping communication clear between IT and the clinical teams.
Looking ahead, I’d love to bring in more innovative tools into our LIS and EMR systems, so we stay at the cutting edge of healthcare tech. I also want to mentor the next generation of clinical informaticians and work closely with other departments—like surgery and oncology—to make our systems even better.
Q: How would you characterize your access to the latest technology; are there tools you’d like to explore further?
A: We have good access to technology, but security requirements—understandably, since we handle sensitive data—can make things a bit tricky. I’d love to use AI tools more freely because they could really boost efficiency and creativity. I’m also curious about exploring blockchain for secure data sharing and robotics to make lab work smoother and faster.
Q: You’ve presented nationally and internationally on clinical informatics and machine learning in pathology. How does that impact patient care?
A: Pathology often involves working across multiple systems—such as Epic, Cerner, and PathAI—to gather patient information. In addition, many laboratory processes, while routine, still require human oversight. These tasks can be time-consuming and divert attention from higher-value clinical work. I believe machine learning technologies, particularly large language models and computer vision, hold tremendous potential to streamline these workflows, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and strengthen quality assurance.
Q: Generally speaking, how comfortable are pathologists as a profession with AI and large language models?
A: I’d say a majority—around 60%—are open and curious about AI and large language models. The rest are understandably cautious, and that’s not a bad thing. It shows people are thinking carefully about how these tools fit into patient care. And that’s exactly what we want—thoughtful adoption, not blind trust or neglect. Overall, I’m really optimistic about where this is headed.”
Q: Where do you see the field in 10–15 years?
A: In 10–15 years, I think AI will be a routine part of diagnostics and treatment planning—not replacing pathologists but making our work faster and more precise. As costs come down, these tools will be in more hospitals, not just big academic centers. Digital pathology will also make global collaboration much easier, and interoperability will be key so systems can actually talk to each other. My hope is that all of this helps us deliver better, more affordable care for patients.
Q: You engage with a lot of young people in the department, what has it been like to watch them launch or grow their career in New York City at Weill Cornell Medicine?
A: I’m still early in my own career here, but it’s been exciting to watch our residents and fellows thrive—and many are really curious about clinical informatics, which is great to see. What I love most about our department is the culture. It’s welcoming, open-minded, and collaborative. Leadership listens, even to those just starting out like myself, and faculty across disciplines are approachable, so it’s easy to share ideas and build connections. For such a big institution, there’s still plenty of room to carve out your own path.
Q: Do you have advice for undergraduates or those considering pathology?
A: I’d say keep an open mind. Pathology—and especially clinical informatics—touches so many areas, so having a broad perspective really helps. Also, it’s not just about how much you know about science or technology; it’s important to understand how to work with teams and communicate. I believe listening to others, staying open-minded, and being flexible are skills that can be applied in any field you go into.
Q: Last question: what’s something people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I have a mix of hobbies—piano, trumpet, tennis, karate, and a love for jazz. One day I’m fiddling with my trumpet, the next I’m practicing karate kicks (not at the same time… yet!). Karate connects me to my Japanese roots, while jazz is my love—if I had a second life, I’d be a jazz musician! That’s one of the big reasons I love living in Harlem. I’ve lived in Tokyo and Chicago, but New York wins for its energy and diversity.
Q: Thank you very much, and congratulations on becoming a father!
A: Thanks very much!