PathAdvantage Journal

As associate medical director and director of clinical pathology at PathAdvantage, Richard Hopley, M.D., is at the forefront of our patient-centered approach and cutting-edge testing. 

Board-certified in both anatomic and clinical pathology, his education began at the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida, where he earned his bachelor’s in biology and his medical degree, respectively. He then honed his expertise during his pathology residency at UT Southwestern and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he served as chief resident. Upon graduating from his residency program, he completed a specialized fellowship in surgical pathology, with a keen focus on gynecologic pathology.

But beyond the lab coat, Dr. Hopley has an impressive story. Learn more about the expert behind the microscope in our interview below. 

PathAdvantage: Where are you from? 

Richard Hopley, M.D.: I am originally from a small town in the north of England, blessed with the rather unfortunate name of Goole. I moved to the United States at the age of 23; first to New York, then Ocean City, Maryland, and then to Orlando. I eventually moved to Dallas for my pathology residency and have lived here ever since.

PA: What inspired you to pursue this career? Did you always want to work in medicine? 

RH: I always wanted to work in a field that helped people. My very first career was in hospitality, but the bar and restaurant industry did not meet the desire to help people be healthy — quite the opposite, actually! So, I began studying to be a physical therapist. My pre-medical courses exposed me to many areas, and I found that I was fascinated by histology a.k.a. microscopy. During medical school, the pathology courses were my absolute favorite, and I was grateful to get my first choice for my residency at UTSW here in Dallas.

PA: What is your favorite aspect of being a pathologist? Hardest part? 

RH: My favorite part is helping the patient or client by solving the puzzle of the patient’s problem or clinical situation. This includes helping the clinician order the correct test, correlating a recent abnormal pap test with the subsequent biopsy, or explaining why a patient might have an unexpected or unusual laboratory result. 

The hardest part for me is making malignant diagnoses. I have tremendous respect for our clinical colleagues who have to convey these difficult diagnoses to the patient; making such a diagnosis is difficult for me as I know it will often be extremely life-changing for the patient. I never forget that our cold, glass slides are representative of a real, living person; someone’s mother, sister, or wife. 

PA: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

RH: I am perhaps most proud of my role in launching the clinical laboratory at PathAdvantage seven years ago. With the assistance of our amazing laboratory manager, Sherrie Sasser, we validated and installed several clinical analyzers. This opened the door to a whole new area of PathAdvantage and added a new menu of tests for our clients and our shared patients.

PA: What is a book you think everyone should read? 

RH: I may regret this, as this is my chance to give some erudite-sounding book full of life lessons! Instead, I will admit to being a science fiction nerd. Perhaps my two favorite books are Replay by Ken Grimwood and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. These both have a common theme and carry the overall message that life — despite its imperfections and hardships— is ultimately worth living and that one should embrace the present, cherish human connection, and find joy in the everyday.

PA: What is an interesting fact about you?

RH: I don’t think I am particularly interesting, but I am vegetarian, speak fluent French — although I am out of practice! — and play the banjo.

PA: What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time? 

RH: I love being active; this includes weightlifting, yoga and rowing. As mentioned above, I play the banjo — poorly — but it gives me so much joy. My son and I enjoy video games together. And my whole family loves to cook very ambitious meals together.