Exciting New Residency Program Leadership Team Announced

By Lynn McCain | August 2 2021

The Department of Pathology is pleased to announce its new Pathology Residency Training Program Leadership Team! Dr. Shih Hon (Sean) Li, will transition from Associate Residency Program Director to Residency Program Director, replacing Dr. Kristine Konopka, effective on August 1, 2021. Supporting him are Dr. David Manthei, who will serve as the Associate Residency Program Director for Clinical Pathology, and Dr. Sara Abbott, who will serve as the Associate Residency Program Director for Anatomic Pathology.


Shih Hon (Sean) Li, MD, PhD
Residency Program Director

David Manthei, MD, PhD
Associate Program Director, CP

Sarah Abbott, MD
Associate Program Director, AP


Dr. Carol Farver, the Director of the Division of Education, commented on how all three have been actively involved in residency education, especially Dr. Li having been an Associate Director since 2017.  Drs. Abbott and Manthei have also been involved in the curricula for Clinical and Anatomic Pathology over the past year.  With this announcement, Dr. Farver, in addition Vice Chair of Academic Affairs, Dr. Kathleen Cho, are looking forward to their plans within the next few months, and supporting the new leaderships' efforts in every way possible.

Few know the full breadth of training available in the Department of Pathology better than Li. He has been a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, AP/CP Resident, and Blood Bank & Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Chemistry Fellow at Michigan. This was followed by a faculty appointment and service as the Associate Director of the Chemical Pathology Fellowship, and Associate Director of the AP/CP Residency Program. He now leads both of these programs, which is a testament to his passion for education. 

Supporting Li in the Anatomic Pathology Residency Program, Abbott has had a career-long interest in medical education, having completed a master's degree in teaching at Duke University prior to her medical training. She has also served as a national representative on the ACGME Pathology Residency Review Committee. “I look forward to working with Sean, David, and the residents in continuing the strong tradition of educational excellence within our department,” stated Abbott. “I hope to help cultivate a supportive and challenging environment for our trainees that creates not only highly skilled and capable pathologists, but also happy and well-adjusted people.”

Manthei echoes these sentiments, stating, “I’m excited for the opportunity to help keep moving the residency program ahead. I look forward to working with everyone and appreciate the great foundation already in place.” Manthei, too, was a Michigan AP/CP Resident, Molecular Genetics Fellow and Chemical Pathology Fellow. In addition, he completed the resident Healthcare Administration Scholars Program (HASP), a 20-month, certificate-level educational experience designed for house officers interested in pursuing healthcare administration as part of their careers.  Manthei is committed to giving back to the next generation, actively teaching courses to medical students, graduate students, and residents.

Li is grateful for the opportunity to support outgoing Residency Director, Dr. Kristine Konopka and to have had the opportunity to also support her predecessor, Dr. Allecia Wilson. "I'm thankful for their leadership and extraordinary work as residency program directors. With support from Drs. Abbott and Manthei, I am excited to step into that role to help our residents to be successful at this early point in their career paths and to steer the continuous improvement of the program."

“I want to thank Dr. Kristine Konopka for her extraordinary work as Residency Program Director, taking over in August 2020 and guiding us through a year of challenges,” said Farver. “Her accomplishments during this year have been many and her commitment to our residents and their education has been paramount in maintaining the educational excellence of our Department of Pathology.”