Martha Pitman

Martha Pitman, MD is a Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and a Pathologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. As Director of the Cytopathology Laboratory and Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Service, she leads a team of eight cytopathologists and oversees clinical, educational, and research activities.

Research Interests: Her work focuses on pancreaticobiliary cytopathology, including the clinical utility of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic cysts, and development of international reporting standards. She is a principal author of the Papanicolaou Society System for Reporting Pancreaticobiliary Cytology and co-author of the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System.

Publications highlight her leadership in standardizing diagnostic criteria for pancreatic and biliary tract diseases, with a focus on mucinous cysts, intraductal papillary neoplasms, and molecular assessment of brushing specimens. She has contributed to consensus guidelines and systematic reviews on pancreatic pathology.

Scientific Awards:

• President-Elect, American Society of Cytopathology

Labs & Teams: At Mass General, she directs a Cytopathology Laboratory staffed by cytopathologists, cytotechnologists, and medical technologists. The lab is accredited for cytopathology fellowships and emphasizes quality patient care, education, and translational research in cytological specimen procurement.