Sudents who train in our Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate program find a broad range of opportunities before them as they graduate.  Whether they wish to remain in academia, go to industry or pursue another path, their options are plentiful. Derek Dang, who will be defending his dissertation soon, decided to pursue a path that is taking him to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He was accepted into the prestigious Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) Fellowship.

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Dr. Analisa Difeo, PhD drops by The Path Report, to discuss how she became interested in medicine, the work her lab is doing, and more!

From Italy to Ann Arbor

Congratulations to Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate student, Madeline Sykes, on being selected for a 2023 Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant. These grants are awarded to students based on the quality of their research proposals and are used toward funding experiments for their thesis work.

November 28, 2023

A Global REACH seed grant aims to bridge stem cell biology and cutting-edge 3D retinal organoid technology to inform new research of childhood diseases that cause blindness.

Rajesh C. Rao, M.D., Leonard G. Miller Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Pathology, is a retina surgeon and physician-scientist. He garnered a $10,000 Partnership Development Grant last fall to collaborate with colleagues at the Ege University Faculty of Medicine, in Turkey, where the team was treating a very unique patient.

“This is just one of those needle-in-a-haystack situations. The disease the patient was suffering from, Strømme Syndrome, is so incredibly rare,” Rao said. “I’m really grateful that Global REACH [...]

Crohn’s disease (CD), one of the major forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, is a chronic relapsing intestinal disorder that affects millions of people globally. The cause of CD is unknown, but it is thought to result from a dysregulated immune response against environmental factors, including intestinal microbes, in genetically susceptible hosts.

The critical role that the intestinal microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiota, plays in the pathogenesis of CD has been investigated over the past two decades. Given the importance of the gut microbiota in triggering CD, the development of therapeutic approaches that target disease-causing intestinal microbes may provide a unique approach to the treatment of this disease [...]

In April 2023, six Pathology employees from across the department came together for two days of training. Many of these had never met the others in the room as they worked in different units, on different campuses, and on different shifts. But they came together with a common goal: to become FiSH! Philosophy trainers with the aim of improving the culture in the Department of Pathology. Over two days of training, these strangers became a team of motivated trainers.

Multiple Department of Pathology faculty members have recently been recognized for their achievements and nominated to leadership roles for their excellence within their respective fields. These members continue to demonstrate the depth of our department's knowledge and research.

Physician Scientist Dr. Aaron Udager shares his journey.

The weather was unseasonably warm as pathologists and trainees gathered at The Graduate Hotel in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the 15^th Annual New Frontiers in Pathology Conference on October 26-28. For two and a half days, attendees heard 20 case presentations by a variety of Michigan Medicine Pathology specialists and participated in break-out sessions for deeper dives into selected subspecialties. Plenary speakers, Steven Smith, MD, PhD, from Virginia Commonwealth University, and Julie Jorns, MD, from the Medical College of Wisconsin, both alumni of our pathology training programs, gave attendees in-depth reviews of oncocytic kidney tumors and metastatic serious carcinoma in the breast. Jorns, also a former member of our faculty, discussed some of the changes that can be seen in breast tissue for transgendered individuals who have undergone gender-affirming chest surgeries and hormone therapy [...]

With blood levels critically low, U-M is once again entering a Blood Battle against Ohio State from October 25th – November 22nd to help collect donations that will save countless lives.

To make it as easy as possible to give, there are upcoming drives on the main medical campus, which are listed in the full article.

To schedule an appointment, log onto RedCrossBlood.org (don't forget to include the sponsor code: goblue), call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or email Erin Burns at erin.burns2@redcross.org.

Appointments highly recommended. Walk-ins accepted as space permits. Photo ID required.

You can also find a blood drive near you by visiting the American Red Cross website and entering your ZIP code.

Dr. Rohit Mehra honored as 2023 Detroit's Top Doctors alongside 5 other pathology colleagues across Metro Detroit.

Congratulations to Dr. Allecia Wilson for her recognition by the Michigan Medicine Alumni Society with the Early Career Distinguished Alumni Award, presented to her October 12, 2023. Dr. Wilson is an Associate Professor of Forensic and Pediatric Pathology, Director of Forensic Pathology, and Director of the Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program. She also serves as the Medical Examiner for Washtenaw County.

This award honors U-M Medical School alumni who epitomize the Michigan tradition of excellence through exemplary achievement in medical education, research, or patient care in the initial 20 years of their career. Only one award is given each year. 

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Wilson on this well-deserved honor. To read the full press release, please click here.

Dr. Asma Nusrat, F. Peyton Rous Professor and Director of Experimental Pathology, was awarded the 2024 Rous-Whipple award at the American Society for Investigative Pathology Annual Meeting on Sunday, October 22, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.

The ASIP Rous-Whipple Award is presented to a senior scientist with a distinguished career in research who has advanced the understanding of disease and has continued productivity at the time of the award, including impactful science [...]

The Department of Pathology invites you to join us as we congratulate our Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Student, Michael Pitter, on being selected for the 2023 American Association of Immunologists Trainee Abstract Award. As the award recipient, Michael was invited to deliver an oral presentation at IMMUNOLOGY2023 in Washington DC.

The Department of Pathology welcomed 7 new graduate students, 7 new residents, 10 new ACGME fellows, 10 new non-ACGME fellows/Clinical Instructors and 11 new faculty at its annual Welcome Reception on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

Dr. Julianne Szczepanski shares her story of parenting while working in healthcare.

Dr. Julia Dahl, Director of MLabs

Welcome to our new Director of Molecular and Genomic Pathology, Dr. Annette Kim

Meet our new Director of Finance and Administration: Brooklyn Khoury, MS, MHA, MBA

Pathology Welcomes Four New Division Directors

In the Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology, wellness is taken seriously. In fact, the department has an assistant chair for wellness, Dr. Maria Westerhoff, who also leads an active wellness committee. One of the many initiatives Westerhoff and her committee has launched is the weekly distribution of free farm-fresh produce to members of the department [...]. 

The death of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett brought sadness to those of us who grew up listening to his music and enjoying the beach vibe. Buffett died from a rare, but aggressive, form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Following Buffet’s death, Dr. Paul Harms, Professor of Pathology and Dermatology at Michigan Medicine, was interviewed by Wood TV. In this interview, Harms, who is an expert on MCC, discusses the causes, clinical presentation, and treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma.

First and Second-year residents Herman and Miller joining AAMC's Organization of Resident Representatives.

Learn more about residency at the University of Michigan.

Welcome to Pathology!

A special talent in visual pattern recognition led Dr. May Chan to her career in Dermatopathology.

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The 2023-2024 Chief Resident Team (Nathan McCammon, Corey Post, and Ashley Brent) stopped by The Path Report to share insight into life as a resident at U-M, what it means to be part of the Chief team and more. Check out their episode now!

Imagine for a moment that it is 1:00 am and you and your toddler just arrived in the Emergency Department at the Mott Children’s Hospital. Your child is running a high fever, is lethargic, and hasn’t been able to eat or drink. You were at the pediatrician’s office a couple days ago, but tthe prescribed antibiotics aren’t working. You are nearly panicked, not knowing what is wrong. The triage nurse rushes your precious little one to a room where a critical care team quickly makes an assessesment and draws blood, which then disappears from the room, as you await answers[...]

A study from clinicians and researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, U-M Department of Pathology and the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology reveals findings from over 800 clinical assays performed for kidney patients with MiTF family gene mutations.

Partly sunny skies and temperatures in the low-to-mid 80’s made for perfect conditions for Michigan Medicine Pathology’s Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate students and their families, faculty, and staff to enjoy a day out at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, July 25^th.

Meet our Resident Class of 2027

We want to be a FiSHy department.” No, we don’t want to engage in unethical/illegal behaviors. Rather, the goal for the Department of Pathology is to enculturate the FISH! Philosophy^©. The FiSH! Philosophy captures the practices of the world-famous Pike Place Fish Company in Seattle, Washington. It is an approach that embodies four simple practices that can revolutionize how someone lives and works: Choose Your Attitude, Be There, Make Their Day and PLAY. With the FiSH!

C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital at Michigan Medicine has proudly earned the title of the #1 Children’s Hospital in Michigan. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to the dedicated healthcare providers, staff, and trainees at Mott who have played a pivotal role in achieving this distinction. This remarkable level of care at Mott is made possible by the expert support of a world-class Pathology department, which the Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology exemplifies as one of the leading academic pathology departments globally.

ASCP 40 Under Forty recognizes Drs. Madelyn Lew and Lauren J. Miller.

It is with great pleasure that we introduce Dr. Annette Kim, Division Director for Molecular and Genomic Pathology and Clinical Professor of Pathology, effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Kim is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in her field, with a remarkable track record of accomplishment in clinical practice, education, and discovery.

The Department of Pathology is pleased to announce that Molecular and Cellular Pathology (MCP) Graduate Student Derek Dang has been awarded the 2023 Phyllis M. Wise Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Service. This award is granted to graduate students who exhibit a passionate commitment to service in their communities, nationally or internationally.

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In this episode of The Path Report residents and fellows from the Class of 2023 sat down and shared insight into their time at Michigan Medicine, where they are continuing their careers, and advice for the next generation of pathologists.

Each year several cohorts of interns from medical laboratory scientist training programs across Michigan cycle through the Department of Pathology clinical laboratories as they complete their internships prior to graduation. The American Proficiency Institute, a certifying body for medical laboratory professionals, awarded scholarships to five students across the United States this year to support their educations, one of whom is our very own intern, Patrick Hoxie.

Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan, S. P. Hicks Endowed Professor of Pathology and Professor of Urology at Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology and Director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, was recently recognized for his outstanding achievements by the American Association of Cancer Research. He was presented with the AACR James S. Ewing-Thelma B. Dunn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pathology in Cancer Research award at the 2023 AACR Annual Meeting. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan for this well-deserved prestigious honor!

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a significant holiday in the United States that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. In the Department of Pathology, Juneteenth is honored with an Equality Walk, in which members of the department from all levels and backgrounds, walk in unity around the North Campus Research Complex and take time to kneel to remember those who have been unjustly killed due to their race. Video and social media posts share this activity with people around the world, as just one aspect of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Michigan Medicine’s Department of Pathology.

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Dr. Ulysses Balis is a leader in Pathology Informatics. As the inaugural A. James French Professor of Pathology Informatics, Dr. Balis looks to continue making advances in the field that help not only the University of Michigan Department of Pathology, but the field of pathology as a whole.

The American Board of Pathology announced today that our own Dr. Sandra Camelo-Piragua, Professor of Neuropathology and Director of the Neuropathology Fellowship Program, has been named to the Test Development and Advisory Committee for Neuropathology. The full text of their press release is below.  Please join us in congratulating Dr. Camelo-Piragua on this honor.