Melbourne Pathology has served the Victorian community for more than 100 years. Our practice traces its origins to Dr Douglas John Thomas.

In Melbourne in 1923, Dr Thomas held the position of Medical Superintendent at Bethesda Hospital, and Medical Officer to The Salvation Army. He was appointed to Bethesda by pathologist pioneer Dr Andrew Honman, and was responsible for both the x-ray and pathology laboratories. Dr Honman recognised the future of medicine lay in scientific diagnosis and he entrusted his vision to Dr Thomas.

 Dr Thomas' early work had immediate benefits. Improved diagnostic accuracy meant patients were properly diagnosed and treated, and so-called 'exploratory operations' were reduced to a minimum. Under his careful eye, the Bethesda laboratory grew to become Victoria's finest diagnostic centre. Excellence and personalised service continued to be trademarks of the practice, which became Douglas Thomas & Associates in 1931.

As our professional service and integrity became widely known, the practice changed its name to Melbourne Diagnostic Group in 1956. In 1980, Melbourne Diagnostic Group concentrated its services to focus on pathology, operating as Melbourne Diagnostic Pathology until 1988. That year, they became partners with BPMS (a merger of Brighton Pathology and Mediscience), and traded under the current name Melbourne Pathology.

In 1996, Melbourne  Pathology partners sold a controlling share of the practice to Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS). In 1999 Sonic Healthcare bought out SGS and the remaining partners of Melbourne Pathology and in 2000, Sonic Healthcare acquired Melbourne company Hi Tech Pathology and a year later Melbourne Pathology and Hi Tech merged.

Today, Melbourne Pathology is part of the Sonic Healthcare group and provides a comprehensive service with well over two million patients each year.

Douglas John Thomas valued independence, personalised service and quality care and these remain the hallmarks of Melbourne Pathology today.