Dr. Jeffrey Myers Honored at Retirement Reception
By Lynn McCain | December 10
Nearly 19 years have passed since a force of nature swept into the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan and permanently altered the landscape. Dr. Jeffrey Myers’ time in the Department was celebrated on November 25th as he approaches retirement at the end of 2024. Hundreds of current and former faculty and staff attended his retirement celebration, recalling his impact on their lives personally and professionally.
At his retirement celebration, Myers’ impact was noted in the long list of those who wanted to share their experiences with the attendees. The evening began with Department Chair Dr. Charles Parkos sharing Myers’ accomplishments, followed by Dr. Kathleen Cho, vice chair for academic affairs, speaking about working alongside Myers as a Vice Chair and the inspiring vision he brought to the leadership team. Retired professor of GI pathology, Dr. Henry Appleman, recalled his time in Anatomic Pathology working alongside Myers, the legendary pulmonary pathologist. Tony Denton, MHA, JD, senior vice president and chief environmental, 
social, and governance officer at U-M Health, formerly the COO of U-M Health, reflected on his time working with Myers while planning the new pathology facilities, his commitment to lean processes and quality, and the pleasure it was to work with a man with his clear vision. Dr. David Keren then came to the podium, representing the clinical pathology division. Keren previously served as the interim director of CP, and in that role, he worked closely with Myers on the Pathology Renovation and Relocation project, which was a fun, challenging, and inspiring time.
Dr. Kristine Konopka trained under Myers and described what it was like learning from Myers as a resident and then as a pulmonary pathology fellow. 
“Beyond the immeasurable mass of knowledge that Jeff has bestowed upon me over our 10+ years of working together and the thousands of cases that we have shared during that time, it is the little moments that I will remember most. But, what I will MISS most – Is all the other stuff. The leadership - Jeff is the person you seek out when bad things happen. He’s always been there… He’s always been there when I needed to be coached out of the swamp or through a case or frozen section I misdiagnosed. He is always willing to help our pathologists and our patients, setting aside whatever else he is working on to listen and to help.”
Dr. Julia Dahl, director of MLabs, served as the associate director under Myers when he led the division. She reflected on working with him, learning about leadership as he led the division, and the importance of continuously building relationships and supporting our partners.
Dr. Paul Lee, executive director, University of Michigan Medical Group; senior associate dean, clinical affairs; and professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, also spoke about the pleasure of working with Myers through committee service and on issues related to clinical affairs.
Next in line was Dr. Kamran Mirza, assistant chair of education, director of training programs and communication and the Godfrey D. Stobbe Professor of Pathology Education. Mirza recalls his time as a trainee at another institution, “I remember reviewing pulmonary pathology cases, and 
whenever a complex case was reviewed, someone was sure to ask if Jeff Myers had reviewed this case yet. It was always Jeff they wanted for a consult. He is considered the best in the field.” When Jeff reached out to him to see if he may be interested in coming to Michigan, Mirza jumped at the opportunity to work with him, “I uprooted my family and moved to Michigan to work with Jeff and the team at Michigan Pathology. Then one year later, he retires, and here I am,” joked Mirza.
In addition to the live presenters, three recorded messages were played from Manuel Meneses, Michelle Mitchell, and Ganesh Raghu, who Jeff impacted through PFAC.
To conclude the evening’s speakers, Dr. David Gordon came forward with his guitar and sang an adaptation of Woody Guthries “Dusty Old Dust” better known as “So Long It’s Been Good to Know Yuh.” He wrote a special tribute verse for Myers:
Chuck Parkos said, “I’ve got a new project for you”
The team’s all confused, they don’t know what to do
There’s no planning anymore; the A3’s on the floor!
So I plucked my suspenders and tip-toed out the door
And I said…
So long, it’s been good to know yuh!
So long, it’s been good to know yuh
So long, it’s been good to know yuh
This dusty old dust is a getting’ my home
And I’ve got to be driftin’ along
As the song concluded, Dr. Myers, a member of the band “Lost in Processing,” was presented with a 1972 Les Paul guitar by bandmate and professor of pathology informatics Dr. Ul Balis, along with a signed and framed photo of the guitar. Balis recounted the significance of this gift saying, "This isn't just any guitar: of the mere 860 models crafted in 1972, Jeff's Les Paul stands out not just for its rarity but for its remarkable heritage. The Gibson Les Paul is a veritable icon in the rock pantheon, having been wielded by the greatest artists through the 60s to the present day. The Custom series holds a special place in this legacy, being meticulously hand-crafted in Gibson’s Nashville factory by a single master builder, setting them apart from mass-produced instruments. Each Custom series guitar is celebrated for its unrivaled attention to the neck and musical intonation, truly making each a piece of art. Jeff's Les Paul Custom boasts a particularly noteworthy provenance, once belonging to Steve Holland of Molly Hatchet. Steve was one of the six-string wizards behind the band's renowned "Three Guitar Army," a triple lead guitar arrangement that etched its unique sound into the annals of rock history during the powerhouse tours of the 70s. Before reaching Jeff, this Les Paul, battle-worn from its glory days of tours, was expertly restored by the skilled luthiers at Elderly Instruments in East Lansing. With this meticulous restoration, the guitar is once again stage-ready, poised to take on the rock scene anew in Jeff’s capable hands. We look forward to the new chapters Jeff will write with this storied guitar, continuing its legacy of rock brilliance for years to come. Stay tuned for epic riffs and electrifying performances!"
Myers then came and graciously thanked all those in attendance and the many speakers as he reflected on his time at Michigan. As he wrapped up his speech, he provided these lessons he learned through the years that have stood the test of time:
- Clarity is always more likely to come from listening and learning as opposed to telling and clinging too tightly to our assumptions.
- Most importantly, kindness, compassion, and gratitude are fundamental to getting work and life right and they are too often in short supply. Be slow to judge, resisting the temptation to define people by their worst moments and instead learning to value them by who you know their best selves to be. Find joy in the successes of one another. Distance yourself from the human tendency to find pleasure in the misfortunes of others.
- Let strategy and decision-making be driven by a commitment to always doing the right thing for the right reason, even when doing the right thing is hard or something that others may counsel against. Do that with grace and an openness to learning from and responding with authentic curiosity to others who may have a different view of what the right reason is.
“Thank you for everything you have done for me and for us.” Dr. Myers then described the next six months during which he will serve as an active emeritus faculty member, working with the Chair in an advisory capacity to finish current projects. “My goal is ensuring the department remains the very best. A place that others can only envy as together you demonstrate what it means to reimagine excellence in all that you do every day with kindness, compassion, and gratitude as your guides. Thank you.”
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
