Lawrence J Jennings

Lawrence J Jennings, MD, PhD is a Professor of Pathology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, serving as Director of Genomic Pathology. His expertise integrates genomic technologies with clinical diagnostics to advance cancer classification and treatment through molecular pathology.

His educational background includes:

• BS: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1989)
• MD: University of Illinois College of Medicine (1993)
• PhD: Rush University The Graduate College (2001)
• Residency: Northwestern University, General Surgery (1996)
• Fellowship: Cook County Hospital, Burn Surgery (1997)
• Residency/Chief Resident: University of Illinois at Chicago, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (2004)
• Fellowship: Northwestern University, Molecular Genetic Pathology (2006)

Dr. Jennings' research centers on genomic applications in cancer diagnostics, with emphasis on methylation profiling, chromosomal abnormalities, and biomarker discovery in hematologic malignancies and brain tumors. His leadership in developing molecular testing standards has significantly influenced clinical practice guidelines for precision oncology.

His 2025 publications reveal consistent focus on translating genomic discoveries into clinical diagnostics, spanning acute myeloid leukemia methylation patterns, homologous recombination deficiency testing protocols, meningioma genomics, and NF1-mutated myeloid neoplasms.

Scientific awards include:

• Meritorious Service Award, Association for Molecular Pathology (2025)
• CLSI Service Recognition Award, Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (2024)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, College of American Pathologists (2015)
• Chief Resident, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine (2000)
• Outstanding Performance on the Surgical Clerkship, University of Illinois College of Medicine (1993)
• Dr. Bertram Richardson Scholarship, University of Illinois College of Medicine (1993)
• Graduation with Honors, University of Illinois College of Medicine (1993)
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, University of Illinois College of Medicine (1992)
• Bronze Tablet, Highest University Honors, University of Illinois—Champaign/Urbana (1989)
• Phi Beta Kappa, University of Illinois—Champaign/Urbana (1989)

Dr. Jennings maintains extensive national leadership in molecular diagnostics standardization through roles in the Association for Molecular Pathology, College of American Pathologists, and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. His division directs genomic testing implementation while mentoring next-generation pathologists through professional society engagement.

As Director of Genomic Pathology, he leads Northwestern Medicine's clinical genomics program, integrating cutting-edge sequencing technologies with diagnostic pathology to establish precision oncology frameworks across hematopathology and neuropathology services.