Cunningham Pathology

What Cunningham Pathology does

Cunningham Pathology is a regional anatomic and clinical pathology services provider headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, founded in 1942 and operating as a subsidiary within Sonic Healthcare USA's Anatomic Pathology Division. The company delivers diagnostic pathology services including anatomic pathology, dermatopathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, neuropathology, and surgical pathology to referring physicians, healthcare practices, and patients across the Southeast United States. Its core technology stack consists of conventional laboratory pathology testing operations supported by secure clinician and patient web portals for report delivery, test ordering, specimen submission guidance, supply ordering, and online bill pay.

The firm employs 11-50 staff including 8 board-certified, fellowship-trained pathologists with subspecialty expertise, and maintains Joint Commission and College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditations. Its revenue model is professional services billing: pathology diagnostic services are billed to insurance providers (BCBS Alabama, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Viva Health), Medicare Part B, Alabama Medicaid, and TRICARE based on medical necessity and payer fee schedules, with go-to-market executed via direct enterprise sales relationships with referring physicians and healthcare practices, supplemented by a self-serve patient portal. The company is operating but has publicly announced it will cease operations on March 31, 2026, with patient services transitioning to alternative Sonic Healthcare USA lab locations.

Name

Cunningham Pathology

Legal name

Cunningham Pathology

Website

https://cunninghampathology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cunningham Pathology is a Birmingham, Alabama-based regional anatomic and clinical pathology lab serving referring physicians and patients across the Southeast with subspecialty diagnostic services. Founded in 1942, it operates as part of Sonic Healthcare USA's Anatomic Pathology Division and is scheduled to close March 31, 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diagnostic Pathology Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Anatomic Pathology (Histopathology & Cytopathology) (HLAFAMAA)

Keywords

• Anatomic pathology services
• Clinical pathology diagnostics
• Dermatopathology testing
• Diagnostic laboratory services
• Surgical pathology reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Cunningham Pathology provides diagnostic pathology services to referring physicians and hospitals throughout the Southeast. Revenue is generated through professional pathology services billed to insurance providers, Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers based on medical necessity and coverage determinations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cunningham Pathology provides diagnostic pathology services to referring physicians and healthcare practices throughout the Southeast United States. Its core service is specialized diagnostic interpretation across anatomic pathology, dermatopathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, neuropathology, and surgical pathology, delivered by board-certified, fellowship-trained pathologists. Supporting offerings include a Test Menu search platform, Clinician Portal, Patient Portal for results access, specimen submission guidelines, supply ordering, online bill pay, and patient education resources.

Product overview

Cunningham Pathology, a Sonic Healthcare anatomic pathology practice, operates as a regional pathology services provider offering comprehensive anatomic and clinical pathology services. The company offers an integrated portfolio including a Test Menu platform, Anatomic Pathology & Dermatopathology diagnostic services, Patient Portal for test results access, Clinician Portal for report access, Patient Education resources, online bill pay, supply ordering, and specimen submission services. These products and services work together to provide end-to-end pathology services from test ordering through results delivery for referring physicians and their patients throughout the Southeast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Test Menu Comprehensive online test menu enabling clinicians to search for laboratory tests and associated information for diagnostic purposes, used by referring physicians and healthcare practices to select appropriate pathology tests.
• Anatomic Pathology & Dermatopathology Services Specialized diagnostic pathology services covering anatomic pathology, dermatopathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, neuropathology, and surgical pathology, providing customized diagnostic interpretation to referring physicians throughout the Southeast region.
• Patient Portal Secure online portal enabling patients to access pathology test results including Pap test results, providing self-serve digital access for patients of referring practices.
• Clinician Portal Secure online portal providing clinicians fast access to patient pathology reports and results, enabling referring physicians to review diagnostic findings.
• Patient Education Resources Diagnosis-related resources and educational materials designed to keep patients informed about their health, diagnoses, and testing procedures.
• Online Bill Pay Secure online billing service allowing patients to make credit card payments for pathology services rendered by Cunningham Pathology.
• Supply Ordering Online service enabling clinicians to order specimen collection and laboratory supplies from Cunningham Pathology for use in their practices.
• Specimen Submission Services Comprehensive instructions and guidelines for proper specimen collection and submission for pathology laboratory testing, designed for use by referring clinicians and their staff.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sonic Healthcare USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCunningham Pathology has joined paths with Sonic Healthcare USA as part of the Anatomic Pathology Division. This strategic partnership integrates Cunningham Pathology into Sonic Healthcare's network of anatomic pathology practices, providing access to broader resources and operational infrastructure while maintaining the company's regional presence and expertise.
• AetnacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-network provider for Aetna Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. Cunningham Pathology participates as a network provider for these insurance products, providing pathology services to Aetna-covered patients.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of AlabamacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-network provider for BCBS of Alabama Commercial, Medicare, and Federal Employee plans. Serves as preferred pathology provider for BCBS Alabama members.
• CignacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-network provider through Cigna's National Contract covering all states that Cigna operates. Provides pathology services to Cigna Commercial members.
• UnitedHealthcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-network provider for UnitedHealthcare Commercial and Medicare plans. Provides pathology diagnostic services to UnitedHealthcare members.
• Medicare Part BcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating provider for Medicare Part B, the federal health insurance program for seniors and disabled individuals, covering pathology services under the medical insurance portion.
• Medicaid ALcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating provider for Alabama Medicaid program, providing pathology services to eligible Alabama residents.
• TricareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-network provider for TRICARE military health benefit program, serving active duty service members, retirees, and their families.
• Viva HealthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-network provider for Viva Health Commercial and Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• ARUP Laboratories: Large US reference laboratory affiliated with the University of Utah, specializing in esoteric and academic-grade diagnostic testing including anatomic pathology. Comparable as a reference-lab incumbent that pathologists and referring physicians may turn to for complex case overflow.
• Quest Diagnostics: One of the largest full-service clinical laboratory networks in the United States, offering anatomic pathology as part of a broad menu of diagnostic testing services. Comparable as a much larger incumbent that competes with and would absorb referring physician volumes in the wake of Cunningham's closure.
• AmeriPath: National anatomic pathology practice and direct affiliate of Sonic Healthcare USA providing subspecialty pathology services. Comparable as a sister Sonic Healthcare AP practice; serves as a natural recipient for migrating Cunningham volumes within the parent network.
• Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp): National clinical laboratory network providing anatomic pathology alongside routine and esoteric diagnostic testing. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping payer contracts and a national footprint that would compete for Southeast referring physicians after Cunningham closes.
• BioReference Health: Regional esoteric and anatomic pathology laboratory serving physicians and healthcare systems in the Eastern United States, now part of the larger OPKO Health diagnostics portfolio. Comparable as another specialty-oriented pathology incumbent with overlapping subspecialty services.

Direct peers

• DermPath Diagnostics: Dermatopathology-focused practice within the Sonic Healthcare USA network, offering dermatopathology services to referring dermatologists. Comparable as a Sonic-affiliated sister subspecialty pathology practice; one of the most natural internal alternatives for Cunningham's dermatopathology volume.
• PathGroup: One of the largest private anatomic and clinical pathology practices in the United States, headquartered in Tennessee and serving physician practices across the Southeast. Highly comparable as a Sonic Healthcare competitor offering multi-specialty pathology services to referring physicians in overlapping geographies.
• Cockerell Dermatopathology: Subspecialty dermatopathology practice serving referring dermatologists nationwide. Comparable as a sub-specialist pathology practice offering one of the exact subspecialty service lines (dermatopathology) highlighted in Cunningham Pathology's value proposition.
• Poplar Healthcare: Regional anatomic and clinical pathology laboratory based in Memphis, Tennessee, serving physicians across the Southeast. Highly comparable as a regional AP practice operating within the Sonic Healthcare USA network, covering similar subspecialties including dermatopathology, hematopathology, and cytopathology.

Emerging players

• U.S. Pathology Partners / LithoPath Diagnostics: Specialized anatomic pathology network focused on urologic and GI pathology serving community urology and gastroenterology practices. Comparable as a regional subspecialty anatomic pathology practice with overlapping customer segments (referring specialists) across the Southeast.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cunningham-pathology

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cunningham Pathology