Running as part of National Pathology Week (NPW) 2026, the event celebrates the NPW 2026 theme, 'Welcome to the Lab' by inviting anyone with an interest in working in medicine or science to join our expert speakers to find out what it’s like to work in histopathology.

Histopathology is one of 17 specialties in pathology, the study of disease. Pathologists are medically or scientifically qualified and work in hospitals and laboratories with other doctors and healthcare professionals to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.

Chaired by Dr Lance Sandle, this webinar features two speakers: Specialty Registrar, Dr Poppy Sheppard & Consultant Histopathologist and Clinical Lead, Dr Neelaveni Duhli.

The speakers will explain what histopathology is and why it is important to healthcare. They’ll also share their personal journeys into the specialty including their education and training, as well as their day-to-day work including any research they do.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask speakers questions. This online event is free, but registration is essential. Book your place via the booking button to the right.

There are 12 webinars on different careers and topics in pathology running during NPW 2026. See more details on the NPW page.

To find out more about careers in pathology visit our careers pages.

Meet the speakers

Chair: Dr Lance Sandle

Lance was born and educated in Leeds. After pre-registration posts at St James’s Hospital, he trained in general and chemical pathology in Manchester. He was Consultant Chemical Pathologist at Trafford General Hospital (and latterly at Manchester Royal Infirmary) from 1986 to 2020. Locally, he served as Clinical Audit Chair, Clinical Director, Deputy Medical Director, and Interim Medical Director. 
Having found it difficult to retire (four times and counting), Lance continues to work as a lipid specialist in primary care.

Lance was Director of Professional Standards at the Royal College of Pathologists from 2007-2011, Vice-President for Professionalism from 2014-2017, and Registrar from 2017-2023. In 2026, he was appointed Honorary Librarian and Archivist and contributes to the Pathology Portal.

Lance is currently President of The Association of Clinical Pathologists. He believes in the power of an open information resource on laboratory tests to demystify, justify, and amplify their role in care pathways. 

Away from medicine, Lance is a music nerd who plays bass, piano, and ukulele.

Speakers: Dr Neelaveni Duhli and Dr Poppy Sheppard

Dr Neelaveni Duhli is a Consultant Histopathologist and Clinical Lead for Histopathology at 
Hull, within the Scarborough, Hull and York Pathology Service (SHYPS), part of York and 
Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Trained in India, she moved to the 
UK and progressed through roles including Specialty Doctor and Locum Consultant before 
attaining specialist registration via the Portfolio Pathway (CESR) route and becoming a 
substantive Consultant Histopathologist. Her specialist interests include renal, 
cardiovascular and pulmonary pathology, and she works closely with multidisciplinary teams 
to support diagnosis and patient care.
Dr Duhli is passionate about medical education, training and service improvement. She is 
involved in supporting the development of trainee doctors, SAS doctors and advanced 
practitioners, as well as recruitment into pathology and service development initiatives, 
including the implementation of digital pathology. She is also Chair of the Histopathology 
Committee of the Association of Clinical Pathologists (ACP), where she supports 
professional development and engagement within the specialty.
In her role as Clinical Lead, Dr Duhli works closely with colleagues across the pathology 
service on workforce planning, quality improvement and service development. She is keen to 
promote pathology as a career and raise awareness of the essential role pathology plays in 
diagnosis and patient care.

 Dr Poppy Sheppard is an ST3 Specialty Trainee in Histopathology based in the Peninsula Deanery. Originally from Bristol, Poppy completed her medical degree at the University of Manchester and stayed in the region for her foundation training before moving down to the South West for her training in histopathology. Poppy's clinical interests lie particularly in post-mortem pathology, and she is currently working towards her Certificate in Higher Autopsy Training (CHAT) examination. Alongside her clinical training, Poppy is committed to supporting her peers and advocating for her specialty as the Chair of the Association of Clinical Pathologists (ACP) Trainee Members Group, as well as the Histopathology Trainee Representative for the Peninsula Deanery.