Our Legacy

When Scripps Oral Pathology Service was established in 1956, it was possibly the first independent diagnostic oral pathology laboratory in the world. Since then, it has gone through a number of growth phases, and by the end of 2001, its accessions totaled nearly a quarter of a million cases! Following nearly a decade as a division of Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, CA, the lab became an independent entity again in 1988 as Scripps Oral Pathology Service. All of the long-term staff pathologists have made significant contributions to the field of oral pathology and have served on the board of Directors and as President of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Additionally, a number of new diseases have been identified largely through the analysis of cases diagnosed in the laboratory, such as necrotizing sialometaplasia (Dr. Albert M. Abrams), florid osseous dysplasia (Dr. Raymond J. Melrose), and a number of established diseases have been further elucidated.

Today, our team reviews 1,000’s of specimens annually. Our oral pathologists are board-certified Diplomats of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Fellows of the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology. They have extensive training in the clinical, radiographic, and histological interpretation of lesions occurring in the oral/head and neck area. From their extensive educational focus, specialty training, and dental/medical experience, our oral pathologists consistently provide timely, accurate diagnoses and patient management recommendations to assist our referring doctors in providing the best care for their patients.

The activities of Scripps Oral Pathology Service have been organized into two divisions.