History

The history of the department began in 1934, when a biochemical and bacteriological laboratory was established in the then Martin Hospital, located in the 5th pavilion of the hospital (pavilion of infectious and internal diseases). In 1936, construction process of new laboratory headquarters started, resulting in a new building 2 years later. At present, it is labelled as pavilion no.9 in UH Martin, and it is still in use as one of the two department buildings. During the time of its beginnings, the workplace was called the Bacteriological and Diagnostic Station, performing not only procedures of pathological anatomy, but also biochemical, microbiological and serological examinations. The first head physician of the station was MUDr. Pavol Hoffmann. His previous work experince included the position of an assistant at the Pathological-Anatomical Institute of Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Bratislava. In 1956, the biochemical methods were separated from the workplace, and in 1960, bacteriology was also relegated. The workplace was renamed to the Department of Pathology. The second physician employed by the department was MUDr. Viktor Müncner, who after graduating in 1961 first joined the urology department and later switched to the pathology department.

Pathological anatomy became a taught subject within the general medicine study program in the academic year 1965/66, within the Department of Preventive and Theoretical Disciplines. Its external head was the head of the Department of Preventive and Theoretical Disciplines, MUDr. Branislav Geryk. Pathology lectures were led by an external teacher, at the time the head of the Department of Pathology of the Prešov Hospital, MUDr. Július Plank, CSc. In 1965, practical exercises were led by the first ever assistant in pathology, promoted doctor Alžbeta Minárová, who was assisted by MUC. Marián Benčat, at the time a medical student working as a "part-time assistant". In 1966, another assistant position was created, filled by MUDr. Andrej Beseda. During the first two years of practical training, other external teachers also took part in the practical training - assistant professors of the Bratislava institute, graduated doctors Milan Grígel, Drahomír Chorváth, Juraj Langer and Martin Šimko.

In 1967, after habilitation, the head of the newly established institute was Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Július Plank, CSc., with MUDr. Pavol Hoffmann appointed as his deputy. Antónia Berátšová was the chief laboratory assistant. Pavilion No. 9 was gradually reconstructed and today's pavilion No. 10 became part of the institute.

In the academic year 1969/70, the Department of Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bratislava in Martin was established, which also included the Institute of Pathological Anatomy. The head of the department was the head of the institute, MUDr. Július Plank, CSc., who remained in the position of head of the department until 1986 and served as the head of the institute until 1990. The deputy head was MUDr. P. Hoffmann (years 1967-1969), followed by MUDr. Viktor Müncner (years 1969-1987) and MUDr. Andrej Beseda, CSc. (years 1987-2004). MUDr. Alžbeta Búnová became the department secretary, who worked in this position until her departure from the workplace in 1977. MUDr. Ľudovít Lauko became the secretary of the department after she left the position. In the academic year 1982/83, he became the deputy head of the department and MUDr. Dušan Ďurčanský became the secretary. The secretary position was also held by Assoc. Prof. MUDr. František Novomeský, CSc. in 1986, who was for the next two years replaced  by MUDr. Marian Adamkov.

In 1986, Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Lukáš Plank, CSc. was appointed the new head of the Department of Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Martin. The department included the Institute of Pathological Anatomy headed by Prof. MUDr. Július Plank, DrSc. and the Institute of Forensic Medicine headed by Assoc. Prof. MUDr. František Novomeský, CSc. In 1986, Assoc. Prof. Novomeský became the secretary of the department.

After November 1989, the department was headed by Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Lukáš Plank, CSc., who was also appointed head of the Institute of Pathological Anatomy of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Martin and the University Hospital.

In 1990, an independent Department of Pathological Anatomy was established, which, however, lasted only one year. During this time, Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Lukáš Plank, CSc.  was the head, Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Ľudovít Lauko, CSc. was the deputy head, and Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Marian Adamkov was the secretary. Subsequently, the departments at the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius Univesity in Martin were annulled and the faculty was renamed the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of the University of Comenius University in Martin. In 1990, Assoc. MUDr. Lukáš Plank, CSc. became the head of the now independent university institute. He held the position until 1992, when he departed on an educational stay in Germany. Assoc. MUDr. Andrej Beseda, CSc. was then appointed to the position of head. In the same year, a regular selection procedure was held, resulting in  Assoc. Prof. Lauko becoming the head of the institute. He worked in this position until 2001. In the same year, prof. MUDr. Lukáš Plank, CSc. was first appointed and, after a regular selection procedure, reappointed to the position of head of the institute. Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Andrej Beseda, CSc. became the deputy for treatment and prevention activities. Tatiana Ertlová was the chief laboratory assistant. From April 1st 2004, after the retirement of doc. MUDr. Andrej Beseda, CSc., MUDr. Peter Szépe, CSc. became the new deputy head of the institute for treatment and prevention activities after a selection procedure. In May 2004, Mgr. Renáta Balková became the new chief laboratory assistant of the institute. In 2004, Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Katarína Adamicová, PhD. was appointed Deputy Head for Educational Activities. In 2021, MUDr. Tomáš Balhárek, PhD. became the Deputy Head for Educational Activities. In September 2023, MUDr. Michal Kalman, PhD, who joined the department in 2007, was appointed Head of the Institute.

Since the 1970s and 1980s, the department has been intensively engaged in treatment and prevention activities, in accordance with the development of new histological, histochemical and immunohistological laboratory methods. Electron microscopy, which was  technically managed by Ing. František Valentko, was included in these mothods, but is not performed anymore. The department established itself as the consultation center for hematopathology, and later also a consultation center for dermatopathology.

In In 2007, the department received accreditation for a special study program in the specialization field of "Pathological Anatomy". The guarantor was Prof. MUDr. Lukáš Plank until 2023, when Prof. MUDr. Katarína Adamicová, PhD, was appointed into the guarantor position.