Health Network Labs Acquires Forensic Pathology Associates

will now own the company that performs much of the region's forensic pathology laboratory work.

In a deal announced last week, Health Network Laboratories, Inc., which is owned by LVHN, bought Forensic Pathology Associates of November 8 for an undisclosed amount, a company spokesman confirmed.

Health Network Laboratories is the area's largest lab services company and has facilities throughout the Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia and Northeastern Pennsylvania region. Health Network performs specialized testing for hospitals, physicians, medical facilities, businesses and government agencies. The acquisition of Forensic Pathology Associates marks the company's expansion into a new sub-specialty that involves  examination of post-mortem materials.

Forensic Pathology Associates will remain at its office at 1210 Cedar Crest Boulevard on the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest campus, said Robert Hurwitz, a spokesman for Health Network Laboratories, which is based in Allentown. Hurwitz would not say how many employees work for Forensic Pathology Associates, but said none of them would lose their jobs.

"In fact, the plans are to expand," Hurwitz said.

Forensic Pathology Associates was founded more than 20 years ago by Dr. Isidore Mihalakis, a prominent forensic pathologist at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest who performed autopsies for authorities in numerous criminal cases. Mihalakis later sold the company and remained on the hospital staff until 1998, according to Brian Downs, director of media relations for LVHN.  Mihalakis will return in January as an independent contractor at Forensic Pathology Associates, Downs said.

Dr. Samuel Land, a pathologist with expertise in forensic, anatomic and clinical pathology, will remain with Forensic Pathology Associates, according to Health Network's press release.