Dr. Shams K. Halat

Name: Dr. Shams K. Halat

Specialty: Pathology | Subspecialties: Cytopathology, Genitourinary Pathology, Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology

Qualification/Board Certification: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine | Internship – Internal Medicine

Affiliation(s): Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund | University Medical Center-New Orleans

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Languages Spoken: English, Arabic

Accepting New Patients: Yes

NPI Number: 1609066109

About the Doctor

Dr. Shams K. Halat is an exceptionally trained and broadly credentialed pathologist practicing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, bringing more than two decades of specialized diagnostic expertise to the evaluation of tissue, cellular, and bodily fluid specimens across a wide range of clinical contexts. She earned her medical degree from the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine — one of the Middle East’s most prestigious medical institutions — and pursued one of the most comprehensive postgraduate training trajectories in pathology. Following an Internal Medicine internship at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center from 2003 to 2004, she completed dual residency training in Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical at Tulane University from 2004 to 2006 and at Case Western Reserve University from 2006 to 2008, gaining exposure to two distinguished academic pathology programs. She then pursued two specialized fellowships — a Cytopathology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Health System from 2008 to 2009, and a Genitourinary Pathology fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine from 2009 to 2011 — completing one of the most thorough subspecialty training sequences in her field.

Dr. Halat practices within the Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund — the academic practice organization of Tulane University — and is affiliated with University Medical Center-New Orleans, where she works alongside a multidisciplinary team including cardiology, surgery, pulmonology, dermatology, and internal medicine specialists. Her four subspecialty designations — Cytopathology, Genitourinary Pathology, Anatomic Pathology, and Clinical Pathology — place her among an elite group of pathologists capable of providing expert diagnostic interpretation across multiple specialized domains. As a published clinician with multiple professional awards and honors, Dr. Halat brings a research-informed, academically rigorous approach to every specimen and diagnostic question she addresses.

She holds an active Louisiana State Medical License through 2026, accepts Medicaid and multiple major commercial insurance plans, and is currently accepting new patients. Telehealth services may be available — patients and clinical partners are encouraged to call the practice for more information.

• Over 20 years of pathology clinical and academic experience
• MD from American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
• Dual pathology residency training at Tulane University and Case Western Reserve University
• Cytopathology Fellowship at University of Pennsylvania Health System
• Genitourinary Pathology Fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine
• Four pathology subspecialties: Cytopathology, Genitourinary Pathology, Anatomic Pathology, and Clinical Pathology
• Practices within the Tulane University academic medical system
• Published clinician with multiple professional awards and honors
• Accepts Medicaid and multiple major insurance plans
• Active LA State Medical License through 2026
• Currently accepting new patients

Education & Training

• Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine – MD
• Internship: Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (2003–2004)
• Residency 1: Pathology – Anatomic and Clinical, Tulane University (2004–2006)
• Residency 2: Pathology – Anatomic and Clinical, Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (2006–2008)
• Fellowship 1: Cytopathology, University of Pennsylvania Health System (2008–2009)
• Fellowship 2: Genitourinary Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine (2009–2011)

Medical Conditions Diagnosed & Evaluated

• Genitourinary cancers (bladder, prostate, kidney, testicular, and upper urinary tract malignancies)
• Cervical dysplasia and gynecological cytology (Pap smear evaluation)
• Lung, thyroid, breast, and other solid organ malignancies
• Lymphoma and hematological malignancies
• Skin cancer and dermatological lesion pathology
• Inflammatory and infectious tissue conditions
• Benign and malignant kidney and bladder tumors
• Prostate cancer grading and staging (Gleason scoring)
• Fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid, lymph nodes, and soft tissue
• Body fluid cytology (pleural, peritoneal, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Gastrointestinal pathology including colorectal cancer
• Liver and pancreatic disease pathology
• Drug and toxin-related tissue injury evaluation
• Rare and complex pathological diagnoses requiring subspecialty interpretation

Medical Procedures & Services Performed

• Surgical pathology — gross and microscopic tissue examination
• Cytopathology — evaluation of cells from fine needle aspirations and body fluids
• Genitourinary pathology — specialized tissue analysis for urological and reproductive organ conditions
• Anatomic pathology — biopsy and surgical specimen interpretation
• Clinical pathology — laboratory test interpretation and quality oversight
• Intraoperative frozen section consultations
• Immunohistochemistry and special stains interpretation
• Molecular pathology and ancillary testing coordination
• Flow cytometry for hematological malignancy evaluation
• Cancer staging support and multidisciplinary tumor board participation
• Second opinion pathology consultations
• Digital pathology and remote diagnostic consultation

Services Offered

Dr. Halat provides a comprehensive and highly specialized range of pathology services through the Tulane University academic medical system in Baton Rouge, Louisiana — serving as the essential diagnostic foundation for clinical decision-making across multiple medical specialties. As a pathologist with four subspecialty designations and fellowship-level training in both Cytopathology and Genitourinary Pathology, Dr. Halat is uniquely equipped to provide expert diagnostic interpretation for complex and challenging cases that require more than generalist pathology knowledge. Her dual residency background at two of the country’s leading academic pathology programs — Tulane and Case Western — combined with fellowships at two additional elite institutions — Penn and Indiana University — gives her an unusually deep and multifaceted diagnostic skill set.

Her services include:

• Surgical Pathology – gross and microscopic examination of biopsy and surgical specimens across all organ systems and tissue types
• Cytopathology Services – expert evaluation of fine needle aspiration specimens, body fluid cytology, and exfoliative cytology including Pap smear interpretation
• Genitourinary Pathology – subspecialty diagnosis of bladder, prostate, kidney, testicular, and upper tract urological malignancies with expert grading and staging
• Anatomic Pathology – comprehensive tissue-based diagnosis for cancer and non-cancer conditions across all anatomic sites
• Clinical Pathology – laboratory medicine oversight including interpretation of blood, urine, and other bodily fluid tests
• Intraoperative Frozen Section Consultations – real-time intraoperative tissue analysis to guide surgical decision-making
• Immunohistochemistry & Special Staining – advanced tissue marker analysis for precise tumor classification and subtyping
• Molecular Pathology Support – coordination and interpretation of molecular and genetic testing for cancer and rare disease diagnosis
• Second Opinion Pathology Consultations – expert review of previously diagnosed or ambiguous pathological cases for clinical reassurance and treatment planning
• Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Participation – collaborative cancer case review with oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and other specialists
• Digital Pathology & Remote Consultation – advanced diagnostic services potentially available remotely; contact the practice for details
• Medicaid-Accessible Pathology Services – accepting Medicaid and multiple insurance plans to ensure all patients have access to expert diagnostic pathology

Accepted Insurances

• Aetna (EPO, HMO, POS, PPO)
• Amerihealth Caritas (Medicaid)
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (POS)
• Cigna (PPO)
• LA State Medicaid (Medicaid)

Please contact the practice directly at (225) 766-4999 to confirm your specific plan is currently accepted.

Practice Locations

Location 1 Address: 5339 Odonovan Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Phone: (225) 766-4999

Hospital Affiliations

• University Medical Center-New Orleans – New Orleans, LA