Tucson pathologist opens independent clinic to explain cancer results to patients

Dr. Favia Dubyk, a Tucson physician and cancer survivor, has built an independent practice focused on helping patients understand pathology reports and lab results through one-on-one educational consultations. The clinic aims to fill a gap in cancer care by giving patients direct access to a pathologist who can translate complex findings into plain language.

Why it matters: - Cancer patients often leave appointments with highly technical pathology reports and little time for explanation. - Dr. Favia's Diagnosis Education Clinic is designed to give patients direct, personalized help understanding diagnoses, lab findings, and medical terminology. - The service may also help patients ask better questions and stay more engaged with their oncology or primary care teams.

What happened: - Dr. Favia Dubyk, a Tucson physician dual board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, launched Dr. Favia's Diagnosis Education Clinic as an independent private practice focused on patient-facing pathology education. - Dubyk founded the clinic in November 2020. - The practice offers one-on-one virtual consultations for patients who submit existing pathology reports or laboratory results in advance. - Dubyk is currently practicing with Foothills Pathology, PC, in Tucson while building the independent education practice.

The details: - Dubyk earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University. - She completed a master's degree in nutritional science at Columbia University and graduated from Harvard University. - Her training included anatomic and clinical pathology residency and a fellowship in hematopathology at the University of New Mexico. - In 2012, while in medical school, Dubyk experienced symptoms she believed could indicate lymphoma and spent about six months seeking answers. - Imaging later showed a massive chest tumor, and her condition had become life-threatening. - Dubyk was diagnosed with Stage IIB Hodgkin lymphoma. - She underwent three biopsies before receiving a definitive diagnosis. - Her clinic walks patients through pathology reports, explains terminology, adds context, and uses illustrations and visual aids to make findings easier to understand. - The service covers cancer diagnoses as well as blood disorders, infections, inflammatory conditions, and other laboratory findings. - The clinic does not provide new diagnoses, treatment recommendations, or medical second opinions. - The practice is meant to complement, not replace, existing medical care. - The clinic's website is more information. - Patients can reach the clinic at hello@drfavia.com. - The clinic is based in Tucson, Arizona. - Dubyk also maintains a LinkedIn profile at professional profile.

Between the lines: - Dubyk's model adapts a hospital-based patient-pathologist consultation concept into a direct-to-patient private practice. - She was inspired by research from Dr. Lija Joseph on patient-pathologist consultations and later connected with Joseph as a mentor. - The clinic reflects a broader shift toward more patient-centered care, where understanding and reassurance are treated as part of the medical experience. - The practice may be especially useful in settings where specialists have limited time to interpret complex results in detail.

What's next: - Dubyk hopes to build relationships with referring physicians who see value in specialized educational support. - The clinic is positioned to expand awareness of pathology education as a separate service from diagnosis or treatment. - Patients seeking clarity on pathology reports and lab results can schedule consultations directly with the practice.