Dr. Charles Parkos Shares Year End Wrap for 2023
By Anastazia Hartman | December 20 2023As we approach the end of 2023, we take a few moments to look back on the eventful year within the Department of Pathology. In the newest episode of our departmental podcast, The Path Report, Dr. Charles Parkos, Chair of the Department of Pathology, shared some of the exciting efforts made this year, what sets us apart, and what he is looking forward to in 2024.
With digital pathology being the way of the future, the department has invested its efforts on setting digital pathology up for success and incorporating its benefits into our everyday workflows. "We've now purchased hardware and we have decided which software we are going to use, which is important to make it easier to adopt a very different way of doing pathology moving forward," said Parkos. "By next summer we will be onboarding digital pathology." Parkos mentioned that he is confident in the department's adoption of digital pathology based on how we will begin implementing this effort, noting that immunohistochemistry will be among the first adoptions, and from there moving through lower volume specialties before engaging with higher volume specialties.
Another highlight of 2023 that Parkos mentioned was the separation of Molecular and Genomic Pathology from Clinical Pathology and the merger with the Michigan Medical Genomics Lab. The division is now known as Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics. Alongside this merger is a new 1000 gene panel test, Mi OncoSeq, which will be implemented to enhance our genomic testing for patient care and translational research which is part of the expansion of the division under new division director, Dr. Annette Kim's leadership.
Maybe one of the most notable happenings in 2023 was the acquisition of Sparrow Hospital. "With the recent acquisition of Sparrow Hospital in Lansing as well as West Michigan, we have opportunities to figure out how we can operate more as partners rather than one central location," he said. "This work has just started and will be ongoing for the next several years."
Dr. Parkos discussed the improvement and enhancement of our departmental commitment to diversity with the addition of four new division directors, and three new assistant chairs. Our four new division directors are Dr. Annette Kim, Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics, Brooklyn Khoury, MS, MHS, MBA, Chief Department Administrator, Dr. Priya Kunju, Anatomic Pathology, and Dr. Julia Dahl, Michigan Medicine Laboratories. Our three assistant chairs are Dr. Angela Wu, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dr. Maria Westerhoff, Wellness and Culture, and Dr. Laura Lamps, Faculty and Staff Development.
While these are only a few highlights of the year, Dr. Parkos shared that he is excited to see what 2024 brings. "I would like to summarize by saying that it has been a real privilege to be the chair of such a fantastic department that has so many great people," he said. "I'm proud to be here and I am looking forward to even greater things over the next five years."
Listen to Dr. Parkos podcast, Year End Wrap: A Look at the Department of Pathology in 2023, here.
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